A new chapter will be written in the history of the Australia Stakes when the Group 2 sprint is run away from Moonee Valley for the first time.
With the Valley undergoing redevelopment, Friday’s 1200-metre contest will instead be staged at Pakenham, where Ciaron Maher will be represented by Jimmy Recard and Nadal.
The pair will attempt to topple Group 1 winner War Machine, who heads betting at $1.65 after acceptances.
Jimmy Recard announced himself as a serious three-year-old last preparation with victory in the Vain Stakes before taking on elite company during the spring.
Maher’s assistant trainer Jack Turnbull said the colt had returned in excellent order.
“Jimmy’s good,” Turnbull said.
“He’s had two jump outs and we’ve been happy with both of them.
“He’s come through them fine and he’s a big lad with plenty of racing to come.
“Ultimately we’ll follow the weather that is around and whether that is in Adelaide or Sydney to look at something like The Galaxy, that would be fantastic.
“For the moment to kick him off, he’s ready to go, and goes well first-up.”
Nadal also lines up after resuming in the Christmas Stakes, where he finished behind Hedged.
“He has taken a bit longer to come to his best,” Turnbull said.
“It was a bit of a shame that we got so far back in running last start because his late work was quite good.
“The threat through the whole preparation is that he could regress in his action after the surgery but he would be a peak fitness and hopefully the likes of War Machine need the run.”
Jimmy Recard is a $10 chance in early betting, with Nadal slightly shorter at $8.