The Group 1-winning machine Jimmysstar plans a mild autumn regimen to prime him for a spring tilt at The Everest.
Under Ciaron Maher’s guidance, the horse launches into Melbourne racing with the Group 1 William Reid Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield, prior to northern raids on the Group 1 TJ Smith (1200m) and Group 1 All-Aged Stakes (1400m) both at Randwick in April.
Those runs complete, he’ll spell ahead of the Group 1 The Everest (1200m) at Randwick this October, a contest where he was third last year behind Ka Ying Rising.
Maher utilised Tuesday’s session at Caulfield with Jimmysstar to build toward the William Reid, now programmed for March 21 on that circuit.
Caulfield suits Jimmysstar superbly, evidenced by his Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) conquest first-up last autumn and recent Group 1 CF Orr Stakes (1400m) victory in November.
“He spelled well and I’ve just been ticking him over,” Maher said.
“He hasn’t done a lot, but I thought we could bring him away to a nice surface today and warm the cockles up a little bit.
“He seems great. His condition is really good, his action, I’m happy with it.
“I don’t want to give him too taxing an autumn with a view to having him pretty right for a shot at The Everest again.”
Jimmysstar thrives more at 1400m than sprint distances per Maher, but unleashes devastating acceleration when returning fresh.
Post-Everest third, the stayer nabbed Randwick’s Russell Balding (1300m) before prevailing in Melbourne’s CF Orr.
“He got better as he went along and as the distances slowly increased, winning the Russell Balding and then down here,” Maher said.
“The 1400 metres is probably his pet distance, and we keep him fresher for the ones shorter.
“He likes coming here to Caulfield, he’s got a good record here, and the William Reid, being run here, the conditions suit him and the track suits him.
“So far, so good.”
For those eyeing the William Reid Stakes, the racing betting markets are heating up with solid value available.
The post caulfield-trip-to-bring-jimmy-on/881204 first appeared on Just Horse Racing.