Recommendation class above rivals in Bletchingly Stakes victory

Blake Shinn removed any vulnerabilities Recommendation might have had at 1200m with a perfect ride to win the Group 3 Bletchingly Stakes at Caulfield.

Blake Shinn rated Recommendation perfectly to win the Bletchingly Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday. Picture: Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images

Champion jockey Blake Shinn rated Recommendation to perfection to complete the Sir John Monash-Bletchingly Stakes Group 3 double at Caulfield.

Recommendation, who bolted in the Monash by seven lengths first-up, held a comfortable 1¾-length margin in the Bletchingly as $1.35 favourite with TAB.

“He’s a really genuine horse this fella, I had some reservations coming into today at a strong 1200m if there was pressure applied, he ticked that box today,” Shinn said.

“We were able to get a nice easy time in front, I was able to rate him around the bend, not push the button too early, and therefore he ran the race out well.

“He was getting a little tired the last 50m but I think the run we had in transit helped him run the 1200m out today and get the job done.”

Recommendation wins the Bletchingly Stakes! 🔥@blake_shinn gets a double💪 @cmaherracingpic.twitter.com/nga3Ncrx5y

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) July 27, 2024

Shinn, the third jockey to win the Bletchingly multiple times after success last year aboard Ingratiating, dictated the race on Saturday and guided Recommendation to victory late.

Recommendation tried to find the rail in the straight but Shinn straightened the Ciaron Maher-trained sprinter to ensure they stayed on the best ground.

Intermittent rain on Saturday resulted in the Caulfield surface being downgraded from Good 4 to Heavy 8 after six races.

It mattered not to Recommendation, who maintained a perfect – four from four – second-up record.

“He had a class above them, if it was stronger opposition we might’ve got found out today,” Shinn said.

Blake Shinn brings Recommendation back to the winner’s stall. Picture: Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images

“I think his last three runs at 1200m he’d been beaten, so I was very mindful coming into today and having that in the back of mind with the plan to ride him.

“He’s shown the opposition he can run 1200m in the right circumstances … he’s rising five (year-old), he’s coming into his own now, there’s some good races in him.

“He’s won the Bletchingly Stakes now and hopefully he can go to loftier heights.”

Assistant trainer Jack Turnbull said Recommendation could target the Group 2 Bobbie Lewis Quality (1200m) at Flemington on September 14, a potential springboard into the Group 1 Manikato Stakes at The Valley 10 days later.

“He’s just come back a better horse, he only had a short time out, but that break and the way he’s been prepped up, he’s in dynamite form and it sets him up for a big spring hopefully,” Turnbull said.

“Possibly a Bobbie Lewis and given that he’s won like that over (1200m) maybe we head towards a race like the Manikato, if he was to run another figure like he did last start.”

Originally published as Recommendation class above rivals in Bletchingly Stakes victory