Cranbourne trainer Cindy Alderson is still finding it difficult to comprehend the string of successes Jigsaw achieved last season.

With seven wins from eight starts, including two Group 1 victories and victory in Perth’s The Quokka, Alderson has been left wondering if it was all a dream.

The reality is, it was not, and Jigsaw is slated to return to racing on Saturday to compete in the Group 2 Schillaci Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield.

Jigsaw’s remarkable run commenced with a win at Cranbourne, on October 10, progressing to a Group 2 triumph at Moonee Valley and then to The Meteorite at Cranbourne last November.

His travels took Jigsaw to New Zealand for Group 1 success at Ellerslie in January before he returned with two wins at Caulfield, including another Group 1, and finally to Perth for The Quokka in April.

“I can’t quite believe it, but it was a lovely place to be,” Alderson said.

“He’s brought me a lot of pleasure and everyone in our stable has had a lot of fun out of him, and he’s certainly given Logan (Bates) the ride of a lifetime.

“He’s a funny little horse. He’s always been a little bit quirky, but if he gets his confidence up, which he seems to have at the moment, and he has confidence in the rider, and Logan has confidence in him, I think it’s a great partnership.”

Alderson was reluctant to specify which of the wins was her favourite Jigsaw moment, as they were all cherished in their own way.

“Every race was good for different reasons,” Alderson stated.

“Winning the Meteorite at home, fighting back to win the William Reid was pretty amazing.

“When he went to the Quokka, he had had a few races and he was over eager.

“He worked really fast on the Tuesday morning, probably too fast, and I thought he was going to be vulnerable.

“To see him overcome a slow start for him, and some rivalry from Tommy Berry’s riding, and still hang on and win the race, I thought was a really courageous win.

“For a lot of different reasons, they were all remarkable wins, and that was the beauty and the joy of the campaign.”

A gallop at Caulfield on Tuesday provides Alderson with confidence that Jigsaw is performing as well as ever.

Now an eight-year-old, Alderson is eager to observe how Jigsaw returns to racing, but she has not discounted the possibility of further travel.

The Meteorite, held at her home track, has not been ruled out, and an earlier trip to Perth for the Winterbottom Stakes could even be on the agenda.

“I’ll take it race by race with him, just as I have in the past,” Alderson said.

“If he comes up as well as we expect, there’s options to go back to the Meteorite, even go back to Perth for the Winterbottom.

“He might have to go down the Flemington straight at some stage as a gap filler.

“He’s only had two runs down the straight, but I don’t think the straight is 100 per cent suitable for him.

“It’s still a nice track to race on and being a bit older, he might handle it better now.”

With the Schillaci Stakes on the horizon, bookmakers are offering competitive betting markets for the exciting contest.

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