Racing
The BYD Quokka 2026 Runner Profile – Jigsaw
Cindy Alderson’s marvel heads West in rare form for a crack at The Quokka.
He's been one of the stories of the Summer and now Jigsaw is locked in for The Quokka, to be run at Ascot racecourse on April 18th.
Cranbourne based trainer Cindy Alderson has always had a talented horse on her hands, third in the Group 3 Blue Diamond Prelude at his second start and a multiple black-type winner at four, before he lost his way as an older horse.
Alderson has been able to not only get Jigsaw back in form, but to arguably the most in form sprinter in the country.
Off nearly 12 months into his seven-year-old season, he blew the cobwebs off in a benchmark 100 and hasn't looked back since, winning six in a row.
He's gone from the Apache Cat Classic to the McEwen Stakes, to his home track slot race 'The Meteorite', through to winning the Group 1 Railway Stakes in New Zealand at Ellerslie, dominant in the Vobis Gold Sprint two back and then beating some of our best sprinters last time in the Group 1 William Reid Stakes.
Off a seven day back up, he showed his trademark speed and toughness to hold off Angel Capital, with Group One winners Devil Night, Charm Stone, Baraqiel, Jimmysstar, Benedetta, Magic Time and Tropicus in behind.
Jigsaw's ratings have been basically perfectly consistent – a testament to Alderson's handling.
He's now run to a Racing & Sports rating of 118 in his past five starts and has developed a fantastic association with apprentice Logan Bates – who it must be said, has gotten things more or less perfectly efficient on him each time.
Behind him last start in sixth was Gold Rush winner and Winterbottom Stakes placegetter Rey Magnerio which ties in plenty of the form in this year's The Quokka, and his rating of 118 will (for now) sit as the equal highest going in, alongside Caballus.
They certainly won't die wondering with Jigsaw – he's a speedier horse who likes to get rolling even more so than potentially his main danger Caballus, and of all the horses confirmed for The Quokka, he'd be a short price to be the leader on the turn.
Whether he has another level in him is unlikely given how consistent his ratings have been, but aside from one or two lightly raced ones, who have a bigger jump to make regardless, he may not need to improve on his 118 RAS rating.
It's been no surprise to see Jigsaw well supported into $4.50 with TABtouch since his slot was confirmed and he'll no doubt be jostling for favouritism on April 18th.
About the slot holder: Ladbrokes
As one of the biggest betting companies in the world and indeed Australia, Ladbrokes (owned by the Entain group in Aus/NZ) aren't shy of getting behind a new race or innovative product, including sponsoring The Meteorite and the Ultimate Drivers Championship in Harness Racing.
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