Geisel Park stallion Manhattan Rain sired his 16th black-type winner with a career-best victory by Jigsaw in the LR Doveton Stakes (1000m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
Unbeaten in both starts this preparation for trainer Cindy Alderson, Jigsaw camped outside the leader Yulong Command before gaining an advantage at the furlong to improve his record to 6 wins in 17 starts for prizemoney totalling $518,000.
“Cindy upped the stakes and we’re genuinely excited taking the next step today,” part-owner Marcus Price said. “He was up against some good opposition so we’re delighted.”
Jigsaw is a 4yo son of Manhattan Rain (pictured) and was ridden for the first time by Daniel Moor who credited the improving sprinter with a controlled, high-cruising mind-set. “He’s fast but not overly aggressive. He switched off when he couldn’t cross Yulong Command and began gradually building into the race on the home turn.
“He did idle once we hit the front but lifted again when Rose Quartz made a late challenge.”
Jigsaw had set a course-record in the $175,000 Apache Cat Classic (1000m) at Cranbourne earlier this month and is back in the sort of form that saw him placed in last year’s G3 Blue Diamond Prelude at Caulfield.
His dam Demandz (Lonhro) won in NZ and Melbourne and, until now, her best foal has been LR Tasmanian Oaks runner-up Queen Adele (Adelaide).
The Doveton Stakes has WA links going back to 1990 winner Karlgarin Town. A son of Beau Sovereign sire Sydney Beau, he was bred by Neil Fotheringthame. The following year, Storaia (Pago Pago) won the Doveton for owners John and Doris Gabbedy.
Manhattan Rain (Encosta de Lago) is covering his first WA book at Geisel Park for $8,800 alongside All American ($5,500). Service fees (inc GST).