Australian Cup Autumn target for Jameka

Trainer Ciaron Maher has pencilled in the Group 1 $1.5m Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington in March as the main Autumn Carnival target for his Caulfield Cup winner Jameka.

Caulfield Cup winner Jameka, above, will be set for the Australian Cup at Flemington in the Autumn. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

Caulfield Cup winner Jameka, above, will be set for the Australian Cup at Flemington in the Autumn. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

Jameka was one of the stars of the 2016 Melbourne Spring Carnival with a dominant three lengths win in the Group 1 $3m BMW Caulfield Cup (2400m) at Caulfield on October 15.

But the four year old mare failed to run out the 3200m of the Group 1 $6m Emirates Melbourne Cup at Flemington on November 1 and was a well beaten fifteen behind the Robert Hickmott trained Almandin.

Jameka was then sent for a spell and Maher has reported that she has recovered from some minor injuries and is ready to begin her preparation for the 2017 Autumn Carnival.

“She’s done well down in the paddock at Warrnambool and we’ll probably bring her back into the stable today (Tuesday) and map out a plan heading towards the Australian Cup,” Maher told racing.com.

“She’s improved every campaign and I suppose that has to level out somewhere but she looks in great order and has spelled really well so hopefully she’s in for another good preparation.”

Maher is planning on a possible three run campaign for Jameka that will kick off in the Group 1 $500,000 C.F. Orr Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on February 11 followed by an Australian Cup lead up run in the Group 2 $200,000 Peter Young Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield on February 25.

She’ll probably kick off in the Orr and then run in the Peter Young and Australian Cup and that might do her or we might just give her one more run but it certainly won’t be a taxing campaign,” Maher said.

Jameka’s Spring Carnival campaign also produce a win in the Group 3 $150,000 Bendigo Bank East Malvern MRC Foundation Cup (Naturalism Stakes) (2000m) at Caulfield on September 17 before she ran second to Hartnell in the Group 1 $500,000 Yellowglen Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on October 2.

Jameka was also a star of the 2015 Melbourne Spring Carnival and after running second to Stay With Me in the Group 1 $500,000 Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield was able to win the Group 2 $200,000 Dilmah Exceptional Teas Vase (2040m) at Moonee Valley before taking out the Group 1 $1m Crown Oaks (2500m) at Flemington.

From twenty starts, Jameka has visited the winner’s stall on five occasions as well as being place eight times for earnings of $3,670,725 in prizemoney and bonuses.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.