Caulfield has been a rewarding venue for Recommendation in the past, and the Ciaron Maher-trained sprinter will return there this Saturday to kick off his 2024 campaign.
The five-year-old is among 24 hopefuls nominated for the Listed Bel Esprit Stakes, contested over 1100 metres.
Recommendation enjoyed a golden patch over this track and trip last season, claiming the Sir John Monash Stakes and The Heath, both Group 3 contests, in dominant fashion.
He also added the Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) to his resume between those two wins, cementing his status as one of Victoria’s top sprinting talents.
“He’s on the same trajectory as last year,” said Jack Turnbull, assistant to Maher. “We keep his workload light at home because he’s so naturally fast. We don’t want to push him too hard.”
While Recommendation performs on all surfaces, Turnbull noted he appears especially potent when the track offers a bit of give.
The sprinter also captured the Zeditave Stakes at Group 3 level last year, another win that came at Caulfield.
This weekend will mark his first appearance since the Group 1 Hong Kong International Sprint (1200m), where he finished 12th after a taxing preparation.
“That campaign stretched him,” Turnbull admitted. “The travel and elite competition caught up with him in the end.”
Recommendation tops the ratings in the Bel Esprit field, which may include contenders such as Aviatress, Niance, and Midwest.
Punters looking for value in Saturday’s feature sprint can explore odds at Australia’s best betting sites, where Recommendation is likely to attract strong market interest.