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Veteran speedster Jigsaw further enhanced his remarkable late-career resurgence with an authoritative victory in Saturday’s 2026 Schillaci Stakes results at Caulfield, strengthening his claims for a potential shot at the Group 1 $3 million Champions Sprint (1200m) at Flemington during the Melbourne Cup Carnival.
The eight-year-old gelding, prepared by Cindy Alderson, justified his hot $2.25 favouritism in the Group 2 $300,000 Schillaci Stakes (1100m) with a blistering front-running display under regular rider Logan Bates, defeating Flying For Fun by 1¼ lengths, with Inkaruna a short neck away in third.
Stopping the clock in 1:01.97, Jigsaw showed he remains at the peak of his powers, recording his 17th career victory and adding another Group level success to an already outstanding résumé that includes dual Group 1 wins earlier this year in the William Reid Stakes and New Zealand’s Railway.
The latest triumph continued a dream run for Alderson and her stable star, who has amassed nearly $5 million in prizemoney during a career defined by speed, toughness and longevity.
Reflecting on the horse’s remarkable consistency, Alderson admitted she is still amazed by what Jigsaw continues to achieve.
“It has been an amazing ride. I keep pinching myself thinking ‘when is this going to end’. It’ll happen sooner or later but credit to the horse,” she told Racing Victoria.
“He’s sound and he’s well. Everyone has worked really hard behind the scenes to keep him this way.
“He’s a bit of a devil. He still kicks his shoes off. The farrier has to come in and fix them up. So it’s not all plain sailing. He is a fast horse. He loves racing, he loves going fast. I’m lucky to have him.
“He came out here and galloped on Tuesday. He just loves to run, this horse. It is like the faster he runs, the more he wins, and he thinks he can go faster and win more.”
Attention now turns to Flemington and a possible tilt at the 2026 Champions Sprint on November 7 down the famous ‘Straight Six’ at HQ, though Alderson acknowledged the straight-track challenge presents an interesting new test.
“His big strength has been how he corners and runs through the line off a corner and bend,” she said.
“With Moonee Valley being out of action, he’s probably going to have to go down the straight which he hasn’t done since he was a three-year-old so that will be interesting.”
While no firm target has been locked in, the Champions Sprint looms as a logical grand final for the evergreen sprinter.
Bates was equally impressed by the ease of Saturday’s victory, declaring the popular gelding had plenty left in reserve.
“This one is pretty special. Knowing what goes into it and how hard it is to compete at the top level, he’s one of a kind and he’s a very special horse,” the apprentice jockey said.
“He won with plenty in hand today. It was quite scary actually. He jumped well, raced beautifully, waited for his cue.
“I pushed the button and he put the race to bed straightaway. It took me a while to pull him up because he did it that easy. I have to thank Cindy for backing me all the way.”
The jockey believes Jigsaw has returned as well as ever despite advancing age, a testament to the training performance behind the scenes.
“We’ve been on a special ride over the last 12 months, and it is great to see the horse back and just as good. It is quite amazing given his age what he is doing. It is special to be a part of,” Bates added.
“Credit to Cindy. She has handled this horse so well. She has placed him to perfection. Could have been a lot of races he could have gone in fresh up this time around and found the perfect option for him to get that kill.
“There’s still no easy task. He still had to do it in good fashion. It is exciting going forward and I’m going to enjoy the ride for as long as it lasts.”
Bookmakers were quick to react to the dominant display, with Ladbrokes trimming Jigsaw’s 2026 Champions Sprint odds from $11 into $6, reflecting growing confidence that the seasoned campaigner can add another elite-level success to his already decorated record.
Champions Sprint 2026 Odds
| 1. Tempted | ||
| 2. Joliestar | ||
| 3. Jigsaw | ||
| 4. Jimmysstar | ||
| 5. Point Barrow |
Giga Kick (2025) completed the Schillaci Stakes – Champions Sprint double last spring.
With his trademark speed still intact and his zest for racing as strong as ever, Jigsaw has once again proven he is a force to be reckoned with. Should he line up in the Champions Sprint at Flemington on the final day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival, he looks set to start among the leading contenders.
