Smart colt to tackle 2026 Australia Stakes

The Australia Stakes will be run at a new venue this year, with the Group 2 sprint shifting to Pakenham due to the redevelopment of Moonee Valley.

The 1200-metre feature has attracted a strong field, headlined by Stradbroke Handicap winner War Machine, who opened a short-priced favourite after acceptances.

Ciaron Maher will be represented by Jimmy Recard and Nadal, both of whom have shown enough to suggest they can be competitive.

Jimmy Recard rose to prominence last spring with victory in the Vain Stakes and then tested himself against the best of his generation.

Assistant trainer Jack Turnbull said the colt has returned well from a break.

“Jimmy’s good,” Turnbull said.

“He’s had two jump outs and we’ve been happy with both of them.

“He’s come through them fine and he’s a big lad with plenty of racing to come.

“Ultimately we’ll follow the weather that is around and whether that is in Adelaide or Sydney to look at something like The Galaxy, that would be fantastic.

“For the moment to kick him off, he’s ready to go, and goes well first-up.”

Nadal resumes after finishing behind Hedged in the Christmas Stakes and continues to build fitness after surgery earlier in the year.

“He has taken a bit longer to come to his best,” Turnbull said.

“It was a bit of a shame that we got so far back in running last start because his late work was quite good.

“The threat through the whole preparation is that he could regress in his action after the surgery but he would be a peak fitness and hopefully the likes of War Machine need the run.”

Jimmy Recard is listed at $10 in early betting, with Nadal close behind at $8.