Jameka will head into the 2016 Caulfield Cup as one of the favourites after recording an impressive victory in the 2016 Naturalism Stakes at Caulfield this afternoon.
Jameka stamped herself as a genuine Caulfield Cup contender with her impressive win in the Naturalism Stakes. Photo by: Ultimate Racing Photos
Nick Hall settled Jameka just behind the speed in the early stages of the Naturalism Stakes and he cut the corner coming around the turn before she burst away from her rivals to score a dominant victory.
Hall was delighted with the feel that he received from Jameka in the Naturalism Stakes and he believes that she will be a legitimate contender in both the Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup.
“She is a massive Cups contender now for sure,” Hall said.
“My concern was having to go inside Tom Melbourne in that bad part of the track, but for a stayer like her to be still travelling at the 400 like that it was going to be easy work.
“When I hit the front I just knew that nothing was going to run me down.”
Jameka had not recorded a race win since she took out the Group 1 Crown Oaks (2500m) at Flemington during the 2016 Spring Racing Carnival and trainer Ciaron Maher was delighted to see her returning winning form.
Maher confirmed that Jameka will head to the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) in a month and he said that she will likely have her final lead-up run in either the Group 3 JRA Cup (2040m) or the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m).
“It is great to get her back in the winners stall,” Maher said.
“When she is able to use her stride like that and roll along she has a lovely action and she just seems to relax.
“Nick gave her a good ride today and it is great for the owners to get her here today – it has been a little while since she has been in the winner’s stall.
“She has always been a really forward type horse and as a two-year-old she surprised me and as a three-year-old she was strong and very competitive in whatever we put her in.
“As a four-year-old she has always been more mature than the other four-year-olds I have seen and she is on track at this stage.
“We will enter her in the JRA and also the Turnbull and we will work out the better option for her.”
Sydney Cup winner Gallante returned to the races with a tough second, while Mornington Cup winner Berisha found the line nicely to finish third.
