There was a sense of redemption for Jimmy The Bear in the Listed Winter Championship Series Final (1600m) at Flemington, as he returned to the race that got away in 2023 and made amends with a gritty performance.
After being beaten as a $2.80 betting favourite last year, the Patrick and Michelle Payne-trained gelding bounced back in style this year, claiming the win as the $5 second pick. He edged out last year’s winner Munhamek ($41) by a head, with Forgot You ($61) just a nose away in third.
Carrying 59kg and drawn wide in barrier 14, Jimmy The Bear had to work throughout under jockey Billy Egan, racing without cover but staying within striking distance. He surged down the straight as the favourite Oh Too Good faded after leading, finishing eighth.
“He’s just an old marvel,” Michelle Payne said after the win. “The whole crew is so excited as you can imagine, and as they should be because he’s just an old marvel.”
“His win last start put the writing on the wall. He was great under Tom Prebble and brilliant again today.
“Billy did the best he could from the barrier, quite a bit wide, but just had a nice resting run from where he was and balanced him up.
“It was looking a good chance all the way up the straight, but he had to fight for it and just as Jimmy does, he doesn’t know how to run a bad race and he fought it out really well.
“I’m sure Patrick’s sitting at home with his arms crossed feeling very happy.”
Jockey Billy Egan, who had also partnered Jimmy The Bear when narrowly defeated in this race two years earlier, was pleased to get the chance again after apprentice Tom Prebble was sidelined due to suspension.
“Tom Prebble is here on course, shows he’s in the game for all the right reasons and he’s a good jockey, he’s one of his favourite horses, so it’s great to see him here,” Egan said.
“I admire Tom in a lot of ways. I wish I could do what he did when I was his age and have his discipline and his good attitude.
“It was a bit like riding a group winner then actually, because just how much everyone in the stable loves this horse.”
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