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Cindy Alderson‘s late bloomer Jigsaw has continued his meteoric rise to fame making it seven wins on the trot with victory for the punters as the well backed favourite in Saturday’s 2026 The Quokka in Perth.
The fourth edition of the $5 million slot race went the way of the ultra-consistent sprinter Jigsaw who handled his first test on the west coast aplomb when saluting in the six-furlong feature at Ascot.
Coming via a lead-up Group 1 win in the William Reid Stakes at Caulfield, the seven-year-old Manhattan Rain gelding had plenty of support for his The Quokka bid and he lived up to expectations with apprentice Logan Bates along for the ride.
Slot holders Ladbrokes went back-to-back in Western Australia’s richest race following on from their win with Jokers Grin in 2025.
Despite being a rising eight-year-old, Jigsaw proved a marvel travelling across the country and extending his picket fence with another stylish performance.
“I turned down an offer to Hong Kong for him so I just thought I would hedge my bets, and I told Marcus that I think this is a nice horse and we’ve just had the ride of a lifetime,” Alderson told the media post-win.
“This just feels like the ending of it all because how could you go any better than this?
“I picked a spot right near the winning post, and I just stayed in the zone and at about the 100m mark, I started to cheer which is not normal for me.
“And then I saw Rey Magnerio flash late and I thought we might be in trouble, but he was able to hold on.”
Rated beautifully by the young Bates, Jigsaw crossed from his wide alley and was dominant from start to finish, leading around the turn for home and giving a great kick on the straight.
Digging deep, Jigsaw held on for the win in thrilling finish to deny the fast-finishing, Robbie Griffiths-trained Rey Magnerio who flashed home late right down the outside to cross 0.36 lengths back second for jockey William Pike.
“Wow … he’s left me speechless,” Bates said.
“Cindy has just done a massive job with him to bring him back.
“He’s gone to New Zealand to win a Group 1 there and then came back and won a Group 1 in Melbourne.
“He probably wasn’t 100 per cent today because he’s come to the end of it but all credit to the horse.
“He was all out at the 100m, and I gave him a roar and a few reminders and he was able to lift and hold on.
“The way that Ascot plays I didn’t know if I could go too early on him, but it’s a big open track so I let him go and he was just so tough.”
In a brave performance, the young Daniel & Ben Pearce-trained I’m All The Talk filly Talkanco got up for third under a length beaten by her older rivals in a run full of merit.
2026 The Quokka Results
| 1. Jigsaw (13) J: Logan Bates58.5kg 1×111T: Cindy Alderson | ||
| 3. Rey Magnerio (5) J: William Pike58.5kg 331×6T: Robbie Griffiths | ||
| 12. Talkanco (3) J: Lucy Fiore54.5kg 2×224T: Daniel & Ben Pearce | ||
| 6. Spywire (1) J: John Allen58.5kg 61571T: Ciaron Maher |
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