Recommendation Claims the Monash - Bletchingly Double

Mark Smith - Saturday July 27

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.  

Recommendation shows a clean pair of heels (image Grant Courtney)

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.

Advertisement

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.”

A fourth stakes win (image Grant Courtney)

 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.

Advertisment

Race Result - Race-Tech Bletchingly Stakes Gr3 1200m

Caulfield Track: Heavy(8) Time: 1:12.24
1
Recommendation
- 4g Shalaa (IRE) x Adviso (USA) (Street Cry (IRE))
Tnr: C Maher Rdr: B Shinn 58.5
Shalaa
2
1.8
Semillion
- 4g Shalaa (IRE) x Sistonic (AUS) (Bel Esprit (AUS))
Tnr: M, W & J Hawkes Rdr: Jordan Childs 58.5
Shalaa
3
2
Marble Nine
- 3g Kobayashi (AUS) x Aura Lee (NZ) (O'reilly (NZ))
Tnr: L & T Corstens Rdr: Ben Allen 58
Kobayashi
MM Gold Coast National Yearling Sale $0
Seller: Figtree Thoroughbreds, Biddaddaba, Qld (As Agent)
Buyer: Psd $40000 Res $50000
4
3
Mrs Chrissie
- 5m Per Incanto (USA) x Turf Fire (NZ) (O'reilly (NZ))
Tnr: C Maher Rdr: Ethan Brown 56.5
5
5
Machinist
- 4g Lord Of The Sky (AUS) x Maquina (AUS) (Archway (IRE))
Tnr: Jack Laing Rdr: Patrick Moloney 58.5
6
7.7
Honey Girl
- 5m Mayson (GB) x Fleeting Image (GB) (Sir Percy (GB))
Tnr: P G Moody & Katherine Coleman Rdr: L Nolen 56.5
More Reading...
7-length Romp for Recommendation in Sir John Monash Stakes
Returning from a 15-week break, the 4-year-old Shalaa (IRE) gelding Recommendation turned a competitive Listed Sportsbet Sir John Monash Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield into a 7-length walk-in-the-park.
Sires With Winners - Thursday July 10
Here is the full list of 31 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Willydoit Data Surprise - Sprinter or Stayer?
Scientific tests have revealed surprising results on the distance aptitude of this season’s star New Zealand staying three-year-old Willydoit.
One to Watch – Gosford
Capitalist had a double of debut winning two year-olds at Gosford on Thursday both prepared by Peter Snowden and while the expensive colt Caesar got the job done, it was the filly that really had people talking.
Wathnan Racing Swoop - Quai de Bethune Eclipses July Sale Record 775,000 Guineas
The Tattersalls July Sale concluded in spectacular fashion with QUAI DE BETHUNE selling for a record 775,000 guineas and the Busuttin Young stable also picked up lightly raced 3YO TIME ALLOWED for Australia.
Melbourne Racing Club Unveils Major Spring Racing Enhancements
Racing Victoria has confirmed prize money allocations for the 2025-2026 season and Melbourne Racing Club (MRC) has announced some exciting race program changes and prizemoney increases that, together with other great initiatives at Flemington and Moonee Valley, reinforce the position of Victoria’s Spring Racing Carnival at the forefront of international racing.
Third Group III on the Bounce for Recommendation
Recommendation is in the best form of his life, adding Saturday's Group III Vale Black Caviar Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield to recent wins in the Group III Sir John Monash Stakes and Group III Bletchingly Stakes.
Breeding To Win – Crystal Ball – New Season 3YOs to Follow
Who are we highlighting this week? - Analysis of the G1 winning 3YO’s for this season has made us realise how many horses on this list took giant strides from two to three, so we are looking into the crystal ball to find some juveniles we believe could end next season as G1 performers if not G1 winners.
Bred to be Good - So You Think x More Joyous
It sounds like a match made in heaven, a colt by two time Cox Plate winning sire So You Think from eight time Group I winner More Joyous, and this 2YO is slated to make his debut in New Zealand this weekend,  
Debut Win for Expensive Capitalist 2YO
An $800,000 Magic Millions purchase from Attunga Stud for the James Harron Bloodstock Colt Partnership, Capitalist colt Caesar was the highest priced yearling by his sire sold in 2024 and made a winning debut at Gosford on Thursday.