Billy Egan will be reunited with the Patrick Payne-trained gelding Jimmy The Bear for the $200,000 Listed Winter Championship final at Flemington this Saturday, stepping back in to ride him at a key moment.
While Egan hasn’t been a regular rider in Jimmy The Bear’s Winter Championship defence this season, he is set to take the reins for the final.
This will be the first time Egan has ridden Jimmy The Bear this year, having last partnered him in the Kensington Stakes on New Year’s Eve. He has been keeping a close watch on the horse’s progress.
“I galloped with him on Tuesday morning at Werribee – Patrick rode him and I rode his stablemate, but he worked good,” Egan shared.
“He’s been going pretty good. I think he’s had a similar lead up with all the races he’s run in, it’s been the same sort of plan as last year, and he’s going well.”
Following last year’s pattern, Jimmy The Bear began his campaign at Caulfield in early May and concluded his Winter Championship preparations in The David Bourke (1620m) at Flemington.
This year, he had just one additional start before the final, a win over 1600m at Caulfield on May 30, compared to two races in between in 2025.
The son of Jimmy Creed is set to carry 60kg on Saturday, 1kg more than last year, as he aims to join Glaneuse as the sole back-to-back winner of the 1600m race, which was first held in 1980.
“He’s pretty highly rated now, so he deserves to carry the weight,” Egan commented on the 13-time winner.
“He’s a big horse and he’s proven he can carry the weight.”
Jimmy The Bear drew barrier one for the Winter Championship Final. In contrast, his younger half-brother and stablemate, Clevor Trever, was allocated the second-widest gate in the 13-horse Silver Bowl Final that concludes the race day.
The Omaha Beach three-year-old also carries 60kg for his first attempt at 1600m, and while Egan recognises the difficulty, he believes the colt is capable.
“Maybe the weights might be a little bit different for him, because they got so close to him last time and he is getting out to the mile,” he said.
“He’s probably got a few more obstacles to overcome, but he’s in really good form.”
Egan’s other rides on Finals Day are also trained by Payne: Bold Soul in the $150,000 Banjo Paterson Series Final (2600m) and Falset Star in the $175,000 Listed A R Creswick Stakes (1200m).
Get the latest racing odds and bet on the Winter Championship Final with your preferred betting sites.