The favourite Recommendation led home a 1-2 for Shalaa (IRE) in Saturday’s $200,000 Group III Race-tech Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield to become the third horse to capture the Monash – Bletchingly double.
Given a positive ride by Blake Shinn, Recommendation led at every call to defeat Semillion (Shalaa) by two lengths, with the 3-year-old gelding Marble Nine (Kobayashi) back in third.
The rising 5-year-old gelding was coming off a 7-length romp in the Sir John Monash Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on July 13.
With his fourth stakes success, the Ciaron Maher-trained gelding advances his record to eight wins, three seconds, and three third from 18 starts with earnings of $842,785.
“He has come back a better horse. He only had a short time out, and he is in dynamite form, which sets him up for a big spring,” stable representative Jack Turnbull said.
“Chatting with Ciaron, the Bobbie Lewis (Quality) is a possibility, and plan for a race like the Manikato.”
Bred by Pacific King Pty Ltd, Recommendation, races for a large group of owners, which include Nick and Gail Psaltis.
He is the best of three winners from four to race out of the unraced Street Cry (IRE) mare Adviso (USA), a daughter of the 4-time Grade 1 winner Proviso (Dansili).
Adviso has a yearling sister to Recommendation, who was a $150,000 purchase for Satomi Oka Bloodstock (FBAA)/Omen Bloodstock from the Arrowfield Stud draft at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
After foaling a filly by The Autumn Sun last spring, Adviso (USA) was covered by Snitzel.
Invincible Spirit’s Group 1 Middle Park Stakes and Prix Morny winner Shalaa (IRE) stands at Woodside Park Stud for $19,800 in 2024.
