Jigsaw juggernaut on a roll for Perth’s The Quokka
Rejuvenated Melbourne sprinter Jigsaw (Manhattan Rain) has drawn the outside barrier for the $5 million The Quokka (1200m) at Ascot on Saturday, but Cranbourne trainer Cindy Alderson is confident he can redress a controversial race result in the west 40 years ago.
Cindy’s father Colin Alderson sent Puckle Harbour (Palm Beach) and jockey Harry White across the Nullabor for the 1987 Perth Cup (Gr 1, 3200m) only to see them streeted by local stayer Rocket Racer (Balmerino) who was raced by controversial owner Laurie Connell.
Rocket Racer returned to scale noticeably distressed and near collapse before being manhandled out of the enclosure by several attendants. The result took on a more sinister tone and would be forever tainted when another Connell-owned winner tested positive to etorphine.
Alderson vowed never to send another horse to the ‘Wild West’ but the notorious WA Inc scandals of the 1980s are long gone and Cindy was in a buoyant mood despite drawing the visitors’ gate of 13 at Breakfast With The Stars on Tuesday.
“He’s won six in a row and has jumped from wide barriers in the last four of them,” Alderson said. “We’re just hoping he’s good enough to make it seven!
“It’s really exciting to be in a slot race like The Quokka. I wasn’t expecting this to happen at this stage of his life or mine. I’m so grateful to everyone who has helped make it happen.”
In a wide-open market, Jigsaw is currently a $4.40 narrow favourite ahead of Rey Magnerio (Magnus) at $4.60 and Caballus (I Am Invincible) at $5. Caballus is trained by Bjorn Baker for a Darby Racing syndicate and they won the first two editions of The Quokka in 2023-24 with Overpass (Vancouver).
Local sprinter Jokers Grin (Maschino) scored a popular win for veteran conditioner Bernie Miller last year and Luana Miss (Bivouac) is best-priced among the home defence at $10 for trainer Trevor Andrews.
Ladbrokes secured Jokers Grin for their slot in the 2025 The Quokka and they’re on a running double with Jigsaw.
“We’re thrilled to partner with Ladbrokes,” Alderson said. “They are great supporters of racing and we are proud that Jigsaw can fly the flag.
“It’s a long journey to Perth but Jigsaw has never given us a reason not to take up the challenge. He has a remarkable will to win and The Quokka gives us an incredible opportunity.”
Ladbrokes commercial manager Dean Elliott said Alderson has done an incredible job with Jigsaw.
“He’s a seven-year-old gelding who continues to compete at the top level. We were keen to secure him and couldn’t be happier to partner with Cindy to keep the fairytale going.”
Some are calling it a ‘Cindy-rella’ story.
Jigsaw was bred by Cindy’s mother Lynne and is raced in partnership with Marcus Price. He hit the ground running as a summer two-year-old, winning on debut at Geelong before a third placing behind General Beau (Brazen Beau) and Anamoe (Street Boss) in the 2021 Blue Diamond Prelude (C&G) (Gr 3, 1100m) at Caulfield.
He trained on at four to set a course-record 57.24s for 1000 metres in the Apache Cat Classic at Cranbourne and followed up with on-pace victories in the Doveton Stakes (Listed, 1000m) at Caulfield, Christmas Stakes (Listed, 1100m) at Sandown-Hillside and Australia Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m) at Moonee Valley.
For reasons that Cindy can’t pinpoint, Jigsaw then lost his way going winless in 12 starts between April 2023 and October 2025.
“I can’t find a reason for his resurgence this season other than a lovely spell and the fact he’s a happy horse,” she said. “When I’m asked what I’m doing differently I tell them nothing really.
“He’s come into his own, his confidence has soared and he’s really clicked with Logan [Bates]. They are the only tangibles I can put my finger on.”
The comeback started with a second Apache Cat Classic (1200m) victory on home turf in October and continued on Cox Plate Day in the McEwen Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m) at Moonee Valley.
An all-the-way victory in the $1 million Cranbourne Meteorite (1200m) followed before a trail-blazing trip across the Tasman for New Zealand’s premier sprint in the Sistema Railway (Gr 1, 1200m).
“What a beautiful horse,” Bates said at Ellerslie. “You wouldn’t think a seven-year-old could come back like this and get better and better. When I gave him a squeeze he ranged up to Alabama Lass and gave me an unbelievable kick.
“I remember coming over from New Zealand and before I even started riding, Cindy and I had a conversation and she said one of her greatest achievements would be to see me win a Group 1 and it would be even better if it was in her colours for the Alderson family.
“Now we’ve done it and it means everything to come back and have Mum and Dad here, too.”
They returned home to make it six in a row in March with a Caulfield double in the $200,000 VOBIS Gold Sprint (1200m) and a second elite-level triumph over 1200 metres in the Ladbrokes-sponsored $1 million William Reid Stakes.
“He’s not a young horse and he’s been in work for quite a while,” Alderson added. “And he certainly didn’t suffer any ill-effects from that seven-day turnaround at Caulfield last month.
“He’s enjoying racing although it’s a bit hard to place him now, especially with his rating, but Logan knows all his quirks so hopefully that works in our favour on Saturday.”
The Quokka has also come at an opportune time for his sire Manhattan Rain (Encosta De Lago) who is looking for a new home following the sale of Geisel Park Stud. He’s a half-brother to Redoute’s Choice (Danehill) and won the ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes (Gr 1, 1400m) before stints at Arrowfield Stud and Blue Gum Farm.
Apart from Jigsaw, his black-type winners in the last twelve months include Benagil (SAJC Australasian Oaks), New York Lustre (VRC Begonia Belle Stakes), Man Crush (WATC Miss Andretti Stakes) and Sabaj (Cranbourne Cup).
Manhattan Rain’s first WA two-year-old crop is headed by the Luke Fernie-trained Ascot winner Boy Crush who has drawn an inside barrier for the $500,000 Karrakatta Plate (Gr 2, 1200m) at Ascot this Saturday.