Jimmysstar was officially recognized as a Group 1 performer in his last outing, and this weekend, he will have the chance to solidify his status as a weight-for-age sprinter.
Trained by Ciaron Maher, the gelding is set to compete in the $1 million Group 1 William Reid Stakes at Moonee Valley on Saturday.
This 1200-meter race will be his first since his thrilling victory in the Oakleigh Plate at Caulfield on February 22, where he came from behind to secure the win. Maher’s assistant trainer, Jack Turnbull, shared that the horse has been kept fresh in hopes of producing a similar performance.
“We keep him fresh, obviously, because of the way he ran first up,” Turnbull said.
“There’s no doubt he’ll get back up to seven furlongs at some point, but if you keep him fresh and have these high-intensity sprint races, you can sit off them and make a long, sustained run, and that’s why he won the Oakleigh Plate.”
“It was just good to see him do it.”
The son of Per Incanto has now claimed victory in eight of his 15 starts, and the William Reid Stakes will be his first Group 1 race at weight-for-age.
A solid performance here could secure him a place in Australia’s top autumn sprint, the $3 million Group 1 T J Smith Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on April 5.
“I don’t think we would steer him away from sprint trips if we were to win another,” Turnbull said.
“Potentially he goes to the TJ, but you’ve got other options over 1400.”
Jimmysstar is one of 16 entries for the William Reid Stakes, which closed on Monday. High-profile mares Benedetta, Stretan Angel, and She’s Bulletproof are also among the contenders.
Maher is likely to have only Jimmysstar in the race, as his other entries— I Am Me, Growing Empire, and Estriella— are all based in New South Wales.
The latter two will compete in the $1 million The Galaxy (1100m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
Maher is still seeking his first Group 1 win with Growing Empire, who recently finished fourth in the Newmarket Handicap. Turnbull commented that the horse doesn’t need much improvement to be a strong contender.
“He was better without the blinkers (in the Newmarket), so they will stay off, and back around a bend, hopefully drawing a little bit softer so we can get cover, that would be his go,” Turnbull said.
