Recommendation completes feature double with easy Caulfield win

Recommendation completed the John Monash-Bletchingly Stakes double with another comprehensive showing on Saturday at Caulfield, drawing away to win the 1200m Group 3 feature by a length-and-three-quarters. The four-year-old gelding, who romped away with a seven-length trouncing in the Sir John Monash Stakes (1100m) two weeks earlier, eased out to $1.40 on TABtouch in the late stages of betting. In similar fashion to a fortnight previous, the son of Shalaa began smartly and was quickly sent to adopt an on-speed role by jockey Blake Shinn. With the track rated a Heavy 8, Shinn elected to remain away from the fence with Marble Nine ($12) to his inner and Semillion ($6.50) shadowing his outer. With 400m left, Shinn had a vice-like grip of the favourite and he had all the others at it chasing in behind having already drawn a length clear. Shaken up inside the final 250m, Recommendation didn’t quicken away with the same authority as his last-start demolition but was never seriously threatened by Semillion and Marble Nine who filled the placings. Jack Turnbull, who is an assistant trainer to Ciaron Maher, later said the horse’s eighth career victory from 18 runs indicated his career was still on an upwards spiral. Jack Turnbull, stable representative for leading trainer Ciaron Maher insists the horse still has more to give in even better company. “He’s just come back a better horse,” Turnbull said. “He only had a short time out but with that break, he’s in dynamite form and it hopefully sets him up for the spring. “I’ve just spoken to Ciaron, who has just landed in the UK, and possibly a race like the Bobbie Lewis (1200m at Flemington on September 14) might suit. “Given that he’s won like that over six (furlongs), we can plan ahead towards a race like the Manikato (1200m Group 1 at Moonee Valley on September 27).” Recommendation showed a tendency to wobble around up the home straight, with Blake Shinn suggesting the horse was looking for the fence to follow. “I think he loves the rail, to be honest,” Shinn said. “He’s a horse that does lay in a little bit. “He’s got the blinkers applied but horses like having confidence. “When they have a pattern and they like to lead and they get confidence having a rail and with the track the way it is today, off the fence is the place to be. “That’s why we stayed off early in the race and he was just looking for a bit of guidance. “I think he was a class above them - I think if we had stronger opposition we might have got beaten today. “I think his last three of four runs at 1200m he was beaten, so I had that very much in the back of my mind. “He’s beaten his opposition - he’s shown he can run 1200, but in the right circumstances. “He’s four years old and rising five and there’s some good races in him.”