Dennis Ryan, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk 20 January 2026
Cranbourne trainer Cindy Alderson left Ellerslie on Tuesday morning well satisfied that Jigsaw is on target for his Gr.1 Sistema Railway (1200m) mission.
The last-start winner of the A$1 million The Meteorite (1200m) on his home track in late November confirmed his position as equal favourite for Saturdayโs big sprint with a bold hitout under regular rider Logan Bates.
โI was really pleased with him, he appeared to enjoy himself and Logan confirmed that he handled it well going right-handed,โ Alderson said.
โHe arrived on Sunday and has settled in well at Donna Loganโs stables at Byerley Park, so having a look at the track this morning will have set him up nicely for Saturday.
โHeโs had right-handed experience in Queensland and the StrathAyr surface is familiar given heโs a winner at Moonee Valley.
โThey timed him to run his last 600m in less than 36 (35.65s officially), which was all he needed to do on top of the trip over.โ
Jigsaw, a seven-year-old gelding by Manhattan Rain, is in the form of his life with wins at his last three starts, the second of those being the Gr.2 McEwen Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on Cox Plate day.
He won The Meteorite by three-quarters of a length over Railway rival Arkansaw Kid, who has accompanied Hayes Racingโs Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) candidate Torture to Auckland. They worked together at Ellerslie, timed for their last 600m in 36.52 without being pressured.
The Liam Birchley-trained Karaka Millions 2YO pair Dream Roca and Vanzadee were ridden in solo gallops by Sam Collett, who reported that they both got through their task well.
โThe chestnut filly (Vanzadee) ran quicker time (36.51) and the other horse just strolled around (in 39.18), but they both had a good look at their surroundings and given theyโve just got off the plane they felt good,โ Collett said.
One of the most scrutinised horses at the Ellerslie gallops was Well Written, the hot favourite for the Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m), who pleased trainer Stephen Marsh in her hitout with stablemate The Exponent, clocking 34.81 for the final 600m.
โI thought she worked up very well, I really couldnโt be happier with her,โ Marsh said. โShe just needed an outing as sheโs been very relaxed at home, so this works out perfectly for her.
โMatt said he was ultra happy with her, and now that weโve got her where we want her, itโs just a matter of counting the days to the weekend.โ
