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.
Ridden by Blake Shinn for Ciaron Maher, the 5-year-old son of Shalaa (FR) settled on the outside of the pacesetting Acromantula. Jamie Kah tracked Recommendation on Godolphin's 5-time stakes-winner Kallos but made minimal ground on the winner down the straight.
Recommendation defeated Kallos (Medaglia d'Oro) by three-quarters of a length, with Nettuno (I Am Invincible) two and three-quarter lengths back in third.
With his fifth stakes success, Recommendation advances his record to nine wins, three seconds, and three thirds with earnings of $964,085.
Blake rode the horse very confidently. He's just found his sweet spot here, Caulfield 1100m, Maher said.
"We knew Kallos would be very hard to beat as he has a great fresh record.
"They've got a great affiliation and gave him a perfect run. He controlled the race; great effort by him and the team.
"He was narrowly beaten, 1.7 lengths in the Oakleigh Plate last year, so something like that might be in his reach. For the immediate future, we'll keep ticking over. The fields have been small, and he's been able to do what he wants, but he's certainly gone to another level this prep.
"We'll have a look at Flemington and see how he goes. He certainly seems to have gone to another level, we'll pick our way through."
Bred by Pacific King Pty Ltd, Recommendation is the best of three winners from as many to race out of the unraced Street Cry (IRE) mare Adviso (USA), a daughter of the 4-time Grade 1 winner Proviso (Dansili), a half-sister to Group 1 Royal Ascot Prince of Wales's Stakes winner Byword (Peintre Celebre) and Chris Waller's top-class import Finche (Frankel).
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.
Adviso has a yearling filly by The Autumn Sun and was covered by Snitzel last spring.
Invincible Spirit's Group 1 Middle Park Stakes and Prix Morny winner Shalaa (IRE) stands at Woodside Park Stud for $19,800 in 2024.
