Trainer Ciaron Maher chasing another Bletchingly Stakes win with Recommendation

Extra barrier work and a gear change can help Recommendation recapture form in his bid for back-to-back Bletchingly Stakes wins.

A barrier refresher course and weight-for-age conditions could give smart sprinter Recommendation a shot at a second Group 3 Bletchingly Stakes success.

Recommendation won last year’s Bletchingly Stakes during a super patch of form that included claiming the Group 3 Sir John Monash Stakes and The Heath 1100 on the Caulfield course.

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The Ciaron Maher-trained sprinter was not disgraced at Group 1 level in the Manikato Stakes in the spring but struggled at his first attempt at international competition in the Hong Kong Sprint last December.

The rising six-year-old ran fairly first-up before struggling down the Flemington straight last month but Maher’s assistant trainer Jack Turnbull said some barrier work produced an improved third in the Monash Stakes on July 12.

Turnbull said Recommendation gave away too much weight in his first two runs this time in before improving at weight-for-age in the Monash Stakes.

The same conditions will apply in the Bletchingly Stakes.

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“He’s never really fired down the straight and he got it pretty wrong and worked up two back so there were excuses,” Turnbull said.

“Last year, prior to the Bletchingly, he’d had such a good prep so he’s pretty much handicapped himself so getting back to weight-for-age will help.

“These two races (the Monash and Bletchingly Stakes) are his chance to get back to the winner’s stall.”

Recommendation will have blinkers back on in Saturday’s Group 3 Bletchingly Stakes at Caulfield. Picture: Racing Photos via Getty Images

Turnbull said Recommendation had spent time under the tutelage of noted barrier educator Julien Welsh to repair bad habits that had crept into the gelding’s barrier routine.

He said a fast start was vital to Recommendation’s racing style but the son of Shalaa had not given himself the chance to jump quickly in recent runs.

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“That was his asset, stepping away from the gates and holding a prominent spot,” Turnbull said.

“He was just getting uptight, standing back in the gates and being very negative.

“They just get into bad habits.

“They might get away with something and they continue it on, they might get a bit tired or a bit grumpy or whatever it is.

“He’s just a lot more comfortable in there. He stands up in the ‘V’ at the front of the gates, which is key, and he’s very receptive to stepping away.”

Turnbull said the return of blinkers to Recommendation’s gear would also help the winner of nine of 26 starts regain his best form.

Recommendation has firmed from $8.50 to $7.50 while the Corstens and Larkin-trained Baraqiel is the easing favourite, drifting from $2.90 to $3.20.

Originally published as Trainer Ciaron Maher chasing another Bletchingly Stakes win with Recommendation