ALTHOUGH it’s been almost two years since Recommendation last won, the Ciaron Maher stable has seen signs that he’s ready to return to his best.
And what better race to try him in than the event which provided his career peak run the G3 Sir John Monash Stakes (1100m) which he won by seven lengths two years ago.
Recommendation followed that win with victories in the G3 Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) and then the G3 Vale Black Caviar (1100m) to make it a hat-trick of feature races wins with Blake Shinn on board.
Recommendation then competed in better races over the spring of 2024 where he wasn’t disgraced before he contested the G1 Hong Kong Sprint at Sha Tin where he finished 12th.
It’s now been 15 starts since his Vale Black Caviar Stakes win but Maher’s National Assistant trainer Jack Turnbull said there’s been signs he’s ready to turn things around.
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This has been backed up by a glowing report from Shinn after he rode him in trackwork according to Racenet.
Turnbull said Shinn, who is getting closer to returning to riding, said he was impressed by Recommendation’s attitude and action.
Backing this up is Recommendation’s last start second at Flemington to De Bergerac.
On that occasion Recommendation carried 58kg and De Bergerac only had 54.5kg. Third placegetter Winnasedge also carried 54,5kg and was a subsequent Caulfield winner carrying 60kg.
Winnasedge is also in the Sir John Monash Stakes and will meet Recommendation, four kilograms worse on weights.
Turnbull said the Hong Kong trip took the edge off Recommendation’s campaign last year.
Turnbull said that last start effort at Flemington confirmed to him that Recommendation still wanted to be a racehorse and had a lot to offer still.
Recommendation has been well supported to win his second Sir John Monash Stakes with Unibet having firmed in from $9 into $6.
The favourite is Winnasedge at $5.50.
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