Although Jigsaw has become a familiar name in Victorian sprint races, the Cranbourne showdown on Saturday will in fact be just his 36th outing.
The Cindy Alderson-trained gelding kicked off his career with a debut win at Geelong in January 2021, and he now returns aiming for a 12th career success in the $1 million The Meteorite (1200m).
Jigsaw enters the feature on the back of two straight wins and is poised to chase the richest payday of his racing life.
The seven-year-old has quietly built an impressive record for connections, banking $1.35 million and producing a blistering stretch of form as a four-year-old, when he pieced together four consecutive victories, including three at Stakes level and the Group 2 Australia Stakes (1200m).
His most recent Stakes victory, the McEwen Stakes at Moonee Valley over 1000m on October 25, secured him a Meteorite slot courtesy of the Moonee Valley Racing Club.
While he went more than two years without a win prior to his current streak, his form throughout remained sound, and Alderson says a long break helped recalibrate him.
“It’s exciting and he’s in fabulous form and ticking all the boxes at the moment,” Alderson said.
“He’s a horse that has seasons. His coat has never looked better, he’s never been brighter and never eaten any better than he is at the moment.
“He had a nice long break, for no particular reason other than we thought he had a fair time of it, so he’s come back from that in great order.
“Hopefully we’ll get a good track on Saturday, and it will be all systems go.”
Alderson took him to Cranbourne on Tuesday for a course gallop to sharpen him ahead of the four-week break between races.
It was a worthwhile venture, given his strong record at the track with three wins from four attempts.
“We had planned to trial him last week, but with the rain, the trials got cancelled, so I thought he needed a bit of stimulation as it would be four weeks between runs,” Alderson said.
“Gavin (Bedggood) gave us one to work with and he really enjoyed that opportunity to work with another horse and get his competitive juices flowing.”
Apprentice Logan Bates continues the association, retaining the ride for the fourth consecutive start this prep.
“He’s pretty excited and it’s been a pretty good journey for Logan and I to share this opportunity together,” Alderson said.
“He rode the Moe Cup winner for us on Sunday, so it’s been going well for us at the moment.”