Second Stakes for Jigsaw - Oakleigh Plate Next

Mark Smith - Monday December 26

After showing stakes potential early, Jigsaw lost his way and was gelded, and it has been the making of him.

Jigsaw makes all the running (image George Sal/Racing Photos)

The Cindy Alderson-trained son of Manhattan Rain is three from three since his operation. Coming off a win in the Listed Doveton Stakes at Caulfield, Jigsaw made all the running, and answered every call from Daniel Moor to defeat the fast-finishing Shamino (Shamus Award) by three-quarters of a length in the Listed Nick Johnstone Real Estate Christmas Stakes (1100m) at Sandown-Hillside on Boxing Day. Rose Quartz (Written Tycoon) was a short-half-head back in third.

“He was under siege a long way out, and I was surprised how he kept finding and finding. He won by a reasonably comfortable margin in the end,” Cindy Alderson said.

“All credit to him and a lovely ride by Daniel. The horse is at the top of his game at the moment. It is a fair effort for any horse to win three high-quality sprint races in a row.  

“If the Oakleigh Plate was at Caulfield, I would be happier, but it’s not going to be, so it was the idea to come here and have a look at it, and he got the job done.

“He likes to be fresh, and this was off five weeks (break), with a trial. 

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The Lynn Alderson homebred advances his record to seven wins, a second and two thirds from 17 starts, with earnings of $639,500.

Manhattan Rain has two lots catalogued for the Inglis Premier

A half-brother to The Listed Tasmanian Oaks runner-up Queen Adele (Adelaide), Jigsaw is the best of three winners from as many to race for the winning Lonhro mare Demandz, a daughter of the stakes-winning Commands mare Loaded Command.

Demandz has been a heartbreak in recent years, with two of her last three foals dying. She has a yearling filly by Foxwedge.

Manhattan Rain stood his first season at Eddie Rigg’s Geisel Park Stud this spring. The Group 1 winning son of Encosta de Lago retired to Arrowfield Stud in 2010 and relocated to Blue Gum Farm in 2017.

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Race Result - Nick Johnstone R/E Xmas Stakes LR 1100m

Sandown-Hillside Track: Good(3) Time: 1:02.96
1
Jigsaw
- 4g Manhattan Rain (AUS) x Demandz (NZ) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: Ms C Alderson Rdr: D Moor 55
2
0.8
Shamino
- 7g Shamus Award (AUS) x Elumino (AUS) (El Moxie (USA))
Tnr: P Stokes Rdr: Dean Holland 54
3
0.9
Rose Quartz
- 5m Written Tycoon (AUS) x Obsidian Dragon (AUS) (Hidden Dragon (AUS))
Tnr: G M Begg Rdr: H Coffey 54
4
1.0
Dusse
- 3f Rubick (AUS) x Artisanale (GB) (Oasis Dream (GB))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: Matthew Cartwright 54
5
2.2
Parsifal
- 8g Darci Brahma (NZ) x Della Lobra (NZ) (Stravinsky (USA))
Tnr: Will Clarken Rdr: Damien Thornton 54
6
2.4
Ashford Street
- 5g Moshe (AUS) x Magic By Gosh (AUS) (Magic Albert (AUS))
Tnr: K M Elford Rdr: Teodore Nugent 54.5
7
2.7
Andermatt
- 5g Snitzel (AUS) x Portillo (AUS) (Red Ransom (USA))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: Jamie Kah 54.5
8
2.9
Felicia
- 6m Unencumbered (AUS) x Los Feliz (AUS) (Shamardal (USA))
Tnr: P & P Snowden Rdr: Declan Bates 54
9
3.6
Halvorsen
- 7g Magnus (AUS) x Flourishing (AUS) (Not A Single Doubt (AUS))
Tnr: R Griffiths & M De Kock Rdr: A Mallyon 60
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