Image: Bruno Cannatelli
Ciaron Maher took advantage of a nice galloping surface to give Jimmysstar a goal at Caulfield.
Multiple Group 1 winner Jimmysstar will have a light autumn in preparation for a spring campaign aimed at The Everest.
The Ciaron Maher-trained galloper will start in Melbourne with the Group 1 William Reid Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield before heading north where he will contest the Group 1 TJ Smith (1200m) and the Group 1 All-Aged Stakes (1400m), both at Randwick, in April.
He will then head to the paddock to prepare for the Group 1 The Everest (1200m) at Randwick in October, a race in which he finished third behind Ka Ying Rising last year.
Maher took advantage of taking Jimmysstar to Caulfield on Tuesday morning in preparation for this year’s William Reid, which will be held in Caulfield on March 21.
Jimmysstar has an excellent Caulfield record and was the first to win the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) last autumn, while his most recent outing on the circuit saw him win the Group 1 CF Orr Stakes (1400m) in November.
“It spelled well and I was just checking it out,” Maher said.
“He didn’t do much, but I thought we could take him to a nice surface today and warm up the clams 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, so that he has a good chance of attempting Everest again.”
Maher admits that Jimmysstar is more effective on the 1400 meters than on the shorter sprints, but has devastating foot movement, especially fresh.
After finishing third in Everest, Jimmysstar won the Russell Balding (1300m) at Randwick before heading to Melbourne to take out CF Orr.
“He got better as he went along and as the distances slowly increased, winning the Russell Balding and then over here,” Maher said.
“The 1400 meters is probably his favorite distance, and for the shorter ones we keep it fresher.
“He likes coming here to Caulfield, he has a good track record here, and the William Reid, which is run here, suits him and the track suits him.
“So far so good.”
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