Had the William Reid Stakes remained at Moonee Valley, Jimmysstar was set to begin his autumn there anyway, but Ciaron Maher’s outfit welcomes the move to Caulfield this season.
The million-dollar showdown shifts to Caulfield this Saturday as The Valley undergoes maintenance work.
Jimmysstar’s Caulfield record stands at six starts for five successes, encompassing Group 1 conquests in the Oakleigh Plate (1100m) and Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m).
The Per Incanto six-year-old enters his return off two winning trials, with assistant trainer Jack Turnbull from the Maher stable eager for his weekend engagement.
“The William Reid is here at Caulfield, which is his favourite track,” Turnbull said.
“He’s had a faultless prep and his trials are obviously there to be seen.
“It would be nice to think he’s come back better – he doesn’t need to – but he tries, he’s very competitive and he’s clearly a very good horse.”
This marks Jimmysstar’s first outing post his third career Group 1 victory in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes; though a leading 1400m performer domestically, Turnbull sees the weight-for-age 1200m as optimal for his fresh assignment.
“He won the Oakleigh Plate here, but that was as a younger horse and he had no weight,” he said.
“Now as a mature horse, effectively he is a ‘seven furlong’ (1400m) horse, but he’s so brilliant and fresh over six (furlongs) he can really rip.”
With 15 declarations for the William Reid Stakes, Jimmysstar shares the Maher interest with Benedetta.
Benedetta has contested twice this time in, both on Flemington’s straight track—third in the Black Caviar Lightning, then sixth in the Newmarket Handicap—and Turnbull praises her unlucky but competitive showings.
“She’s been running bold races against some very good horses,” he said.
“She’s obviously going back to weight-for-age, but she deserves her place as well.”
Joining the Maher runners are 10 other Group 1 winners in the mix: Baraqiel, Charm Stone, Devil Night, Jigsaw, Lady Shenandoah (unlikely), Magic Time, Skybird, Tropicus, and Angel Capital as a probable.
Discover competitive betting markets for the race on the William Reid Stakes.
