Jojo Was A Man can run a race at bolter’s odds in Saturday’s Festival Stakes at Rosehill Gardens

Thompson has adopted the slow and steady approach with the eight-year-old Al Maher gelding which has spent the majority of 2025 sidelined with a tendon injury.

But with three runs now under his belt this preparation and the blinkers returning, Thompson is confident the hugely consistent stable performer can run a race at odds on Saturday.

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“He’s a big gross horse so I took it very steady with him as he worked his way back from a long time off – he really needed those runs,” Thompson said.

“We had him in at Kembla last week but I pulled him out when the track got like it did because I just didn’t want to risk him on it with where he’s at.

“We are going to get a good track on Saturday and that’ll suit him perfectly. I’m really happy with where he’s at now.”

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Bookmaker Tab.com.au currently has Jojo Was A Man at an eye-watering $151 for his Festival Stakes push, for which he’ll exit barrier five.

He’ll be ridden for the first time by Braith Nock who will be instructed to push forward on a gelding that seemingly produces his best when up on the speed and dictating.

“The blinkers go back on and we’ll definitely go forward,” Thompson said.

“Braith hasn’t been on him before but I think he’ll suit the horse and fitness wise he’s at a stage now where I think he’s ready to run a race.

“The plan is to obviously get through tomorrow but the Ingham in a couple of weeks time looks like a suitable target for him if everything goes well.”

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Thompson will also have a keen eye on the opener in Queensland at Eagle Farm on Saturday where Clear Proof lines up in the Class 1 Plate (1350m).

The four-year-old Justify gelding, which has won one of his 10 starts, makes the trip north on the strength of two creditable Midway performances to launch his preparation.

“He’s third up from a spell and has drawn a gate so he ticks a lot of boxes,” Thompson said.

“His last run was good and I expect him to run well.”

Clear Proof, set to be ridden by Boris Thornton, is at $6 in what is a strong Class 1 Handicap.

Holding favouritism is the Kris Lees-trained Miss Busslinger – a mare that’s tackled her share of stakes events in a 17-start career which has netted just the one win.

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Shangri La Spring ‘going much, much better than form reads’

Co-trainer Adrian Bott has declared Shangri La Spring is going “better than his form suggests” ahead of his ATC Cup (2000m) test at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

The winner of the Group 3 Frank Packer Plate (2000m) during the autumn has been unplaced in his five starts since, including a stint in Queensland before returning for three Sydney runs culminating in a tilt at the $10m Golden Eagle.

While the four time winner is yet to register a top three finish this campaign, Bott warned punters not to take him lightly.

“His Silver Eagle run was excellent and then he had absolutely no luck at all in the Golden Eagle,” Bott, who trains in partnership with Gai Waterhouse, said.

“He was never on the track from the wide draw. He loomed but he peaked on the run.

“He’s going much, much better than his form reads.”

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Shangri La Spring now steps back up to 2000m for Saturday’s quality handicap in which he’s on the limit weight of 53kg with Tim Clark in the saddle from barrier one.

“We sent him back to the trials and he really looked the part there,” Bott said.

“I expect to see him be effective at 2000m and he’s drawn to get a few favours in the run.

“He is in really good order.”

Shangri La Spring has been supported by punters where he’s the $3.30 favourite ahead of the Chris Waller-trained God’s Window at $5.

The Bott-Waterhouse stable will also saddle up Australian Derby winner Major Beel in the ATC Cup and he too is expected to improve.

“I’d expect him to make improvement in a more suitable race over a trip he’s looking for,” Bott said.

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Light Infantry Man leads Maher charge in Zipping Classic

The all-conquering Ciaron Maher and Ethan Brown combination will be searching for more spring spoils when Light Infantry Man takes his place in the Group 2 Zipping Classic (2400m) at Caulfield on Saturday.

The two-time Group 1 winning six-year-old hasn’t troubled the scorer this preparation but out to the mile and a half journey on Saturday, punters are expecting the reigning Australian Cup winner to give the race a shake.

Light Infantry Man is a $4.50 second elect with bookies behind the Grahame Begg-trained She’s A Hustler at $3.30.

The five-year-old mare has enjoyed a remarkable start to her career with her 10 starts returning six wins and four seconds.

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Ryan to make an Impact at Rosehill

Preparation is everything and Saturday is an important moment in the career of Strawberry Impact.

A beaten favourite in three of his past four starts, the Blake Ryan-trained galloper has been a costly commodity for punters this campaign – but he ticks all his trainer’s boxes ahead of Saturday’s Midway Handicap (2000m) at Rosehill Gardens.

“We’ve always thought 2000m would be his go so we’ve been educating him as well as racing in recent runs,” Ryan said.

“Teaching him to settle has been an important part of that.

“Saturday is the right race, right distance and hopefully he can race a bit closer this time.”

Tommy Berry rides Strawberry Impact and the gelding is the $3.60 bookies elect.

Originally published as Jojo Was A Man can run a race at bolter’s odds in Saturday’s Festival Stakes at Rosehill Gardens