Star jockey Ben Melham has assessed Birdman as spot on for his tilt at the Australian Cup after his comfortable win in the G2 Peter Young Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
Melham said the Chris Waller-trained import had been a revelation this time in with his form after he followed his win in the G2 Blamey Stakes (1600m) at Flemington with his comprehensive victory.
“I’ve had a bit to do with him this preparation and I thought early doors the way he was going, he was heading in the right direction to be really competitive in an Australian Cup and the more I have to do with him, the more I think he can win it,” Melham said.
Melham said Birdman had taken his form to another level this preparation, as he may have just needed time to acclimatise.
Melham had him placed behind the leaders on the fence and eased him out on turning, where he gained a run and had the race under control early in the straight.
“He’s a very relaxed customer, seeing him there now, he’s about to fall asleep, so he takes a bit of waking up, but the ability’s there with him is certainly going really well.”
Waller’s Melbourne stable foreman, Lizzie Collett, also said that Birdman was a different horse this preparation.
“His three runs have shown that he’s absolutely on song. These imports do take a while to adjust,” Collett said.
“This prep he has turned into a magnificent horse and each run has been outstanding. In the straight today, he didn’t ask him until he had to and he put them away very easily.”
Birdman is the $4 second favourite behind Tom Kitten, who is $3.50 for the Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington on March 28.
Cindy Alderson has a pleasant problem to weigh up early in the week and that’s whether to back up her rejuvenated sprinter Jigsaw in the G1 William Reid Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
Jigsaw made it five straight wins with Logan Bates aboard when he toyed with his opposition to take out the VOBIS Gold Dash (1200m) by three and a half lengths in a time of 1:08.83 min..
Alderson said it was quite unbelievable what he was doing as a seven-year-old gelding.
“Each time, he seems to get better and better. I mean, I just couldn’t believe he put that field away with that weight, as comfortably as he did.
We had originally thought we might go just straight to the William Reid and then I looked at the weather map and a few other things and I thought, no, we’ll go here.
Alderson pointed out that Bates did not have to push Jigsaw out to win, which was part of their pre-race discussion, knowing the William Reid Stakes was a week later.
Bates didn’t hesitate when asked whether Jigsaw should back-up saying 100% he should.
