Trainer Mark Walker is drawing considerable encouragement from jockey Blake Shinn’s decision to partner Geegees Mistruth in an upcoming Group 1 event at Caulfield.

Shinn guided Geegees Mistruth in the Group 1 Moir Stakes (1000m) at Sandown on September 5 and will continue his association with the mare for the Manikato Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield this Sunday.

Geegees Mistruth secured fifth place behind My Gladiola upon her return at Sandown, in a race where the dynamics shifted little once the field found its rhythm.

Having achieved Group 1 success in Adelaide to conclude her autumn campaign, Walker expressed his satisfaction with Geegees Mistruth’s performance first-up at Sandown.

“She ran well,” Walker stated. “The first three around the corner were the first three home, but I thought she ran really well and more importantly Blake is sticking with her. That’s a positive. Her sectionals were good, so we take a lot of positives out of the run.”

My Gladiola and Extragalactic, who finished ahead of Geegees Mistruth at Sandown, will be competitors again on Saturday. Meanwhile, Point Barrow, who trailed the Walker-trained mare by nearly three lengths, went on to win at Caulfield last Saturday.

Geegees Mistruth has competed at Caulfield seven times previously, finishing in the top three on four occasions.

All four of Geegees Mistruth’s placings have been at Stakes level, with distances spanning 1000m to 1400m, including a second to Rey Magnerio in the Caulfield Sprint last October.

Geegees Mistruth’s sole poor performance was when she failed to jump in the Oakleigh Plate (1100m) in February, her only Group 1 start at that track.

The mare has again drawn barrier one for Saturday’s race, a gate she has had in three of her last six starts.

“She’s got a good record at Caulfield without winning,” Walker commented. “It’s, arguably, a stronger field than first-up, however the 1200 metres is going to suit her better, so we’ll have to see how she goes.”

The Manikato Stakes is set to be a thrilling contest, with bookmakers offering competitive racing odds.