‘Didn’t expect to win that easy’: Recommendation spaces field in 2024 Sir John Monash Stakes

A sports science-influenced decision to race Recommendation instead of tackling a second jumpout scored Ciaron Maher the easiest of Group 3 Sir John Monash Stakes (1100m) triumphs.

Recommendation cruises home under Blake Shinn to win the Sir John Monash Stakes at Caulfield. Picture: Scott Barbour / Racing Photos

A sports science-influenced decision to race Recommendation instead of tackling a second jumpout scored Ciaron Maher the easiest of Group 3 Sir John Monash Stakes (1100m) triumphs.

Class sprinter Recommendation spaced the eight-horse field by seven lengths on Saturday at Caulfield – to set up a promising spring to come and bank a $120,000 first prize.

Recommendation, like most horses, would typically jump out twice before a first-up run but recovery data after an 800m heat two weeks ago prompted Maher, who has a designated sports science department, to find a race instead.

Champion jockey Blake Shinn’s desire to ride Recommendation only strengthened the case.

“Blake rang me early, was very keen to get on, said he’s the horse he wanted to ride,” Maher said.

“The team has done a good job and he (Recommendation) looked much better there (winner’s stall at Caulfield) than what he would at Cranbourne (jumpouts) on Monday.”

Recommendation! 🔥

He puts the hammer down and wins with ease💨@[e-mail]/MD5eIiKN9T

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) July 13, 2024

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Recommendation eased from $2.80 to $3.60 with TAB but saluted like a $1.10 pop.

“He wasn’t beaten far in an Oakleigh Plate here on a firm deck, but I didn’t expect him to win that easy,” Maher said.

“You could see he bridled up around the turn lovely and the race was over.”

Recommendation is likely to return to Caulfield in a fortnight for the Group 3 Bletchingly Stakes (1200m).

“He seems to love the bend, there’s the Aurie’s Star (Flemington straight) but the bend is more the go for him and looks like he’s hardly turned a hair,” Maher said.

“Hopefully he’s in for a good spring.”

Queensland visitor Party For Two finished second, with Maher-trained Mrs Chrissie third.

“She’s had a phenomenal winter,” Maher said of Mrs Chrissie.

“To get that black type is everything for those mares, it makes them so valuable.”

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Shinn gave no consideration to Recommendation’s fitness, one jumpout not two, going into the Group 3 feature.

“We took that out of the equation, thinking about his fitness, because you really don’t want that in your mind when you’re out there on the track,” Shinn said.

“You want to be out there riding to win and thinking they’re 100 per cent, that’s the best way to play it and fortunately it worked out that way and Ciaron might’ve had him fitter than he actually thought.”

He lauded the stellar performance and endorsed Recommendation for the Bletchingly and beyond.

Recommendation spaces the field to win the Sir John Monash Stakes. Picture: Reg Ryan / Racing Photos

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“I had a little look to the big screen and I saw the margin and thought ‘wow it’s all over now’,” Shinn said.

“The track has been playing a bit on speed, hard to make ground, once we were able to own the front and travel like he did we were incredibly hard to beat, he’s a class horse.

“He’s raced in good company before and that prep might’ve seasoned him up for this, yes he might be against some tougher opposition in the coming starts but he feels a lethal sprinter … I think he might’ve come back a bit better than last prep.”

Originally published as ‘Didn’t expect to win that easy’: Recommendation spaces field in 2024 Sir John Monash Stakes