Caulfield trainer Ciaron Maher has confirmed a Caulfield Cup – Melbourne Cup campaign for last season’s Crown Oaks winner Jameka.
Jameka, above, will be set for the Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup during the Spring Carnival. Photo by Adrienne Bicknell.
Maher said that Jameka has come through a tough Autumn Carnival campaign well and has returned to the stable following a short break to step up her work in preparation for the Group 1 $3m BMW Caulfield Cup (2400m) at Caulfield in October and the Group 1 $6m Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on the first Tuesday in November.
“She spelled really well, her action is good and she’ll probably make a path to the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups,” Maher told RSN’s Racing Ahead.
“She’ll kick off over I’d say 1400m and then her fourth run in the Caulfield Cup and then the Melbourne Cup.”
Jameka showed off her staying ability during the 2015 Melbourne Spring Carnival with a win in the Group 2 $200,000 Dilmah Exceptional Teas Vase (2040m) at Moonee Valley and then went on to score an emphatic win in the Group 1 $1m Crown Oaks (2500m) at Flemington.
Following a break Jameka returned for the Autumn Carnival and even though she was unable to fill the winner’s stall from five starts, the Myboycharlie filly still performed well.
Jameka kicked off her Autumn Carnival with a fourth to Don’t Doubt Mamma in the Group 3 $150,000 The Vanity (1400m) at Flemington on February 20 followed by a fifth to Palentino in the Group 1 $750,000 Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington a fortnight later.
Maher then turned his attention to Sydney where Jameka ran another honest race for a third to Tarzino in the Group 1 $600,000 Sky Racing Rosehill Guineas (2000m) at Rosehill on March 19 followed by a second to New Zealand three year old gelding Tavago in the Group 1 $2m BMW Australian Derby (2400m) at Randwick on the first day of ‘The Championships’ on April 2.
Jameka then backed the following week to wrap up her Autumn Carnival campaign with a fourth to Kiwi filly Sofia Rosa in the Group 1 $1m James Boag’s Premium Australian Oaks (2400m) at Randwick.
In early Spring Carnival markets at Ladbrokes.com.au, Jameka is marked at $21 for the Caulfield Cup while in the Melbourne Cup she is listed as a $34 chance.
