Making his 32nd start a few weeks short of turning seven and sporting one of the most recognizable set of colours in racing, Jojo Was A Man broke an 81-week drought with a maiden stakes success in Saturday’s Listed Toyota Forklifts Winter Challenge (1500m) at Rosehill.
Ridden by Reece Jones for John Thompson, Jojo Was A Man (Al Maher) led home a long-priced trifecta, defeating More Secrets (More Than Ready) by a long neck with Charterhouse (GB) (Charming Force) a neck back in third.
Third in this race in 2022, the son of Al Maher advances his record to eight wins, three seconds, and two thirds from 32 starts with earnings of $590,440.
“He just got a little bit keen the other day in the blinkers for the first time, but he was a lot better today with a nice tempo,” Thompson said.
“He just cruised along behind them and, I think, getting back on top of the ground helped. He gets through the wet, but he can accelerate on top of the ground.”
A homebred for the Tait family, Hoboken Stud and partners, Jojo Was A Man is the best of two winners from as many runners for the talented Reset mare Jo Jo Girl whose dam Margot's Slippers (General Nediym) is a half-sister to the Group III VATC Mannerism Stakes winner Red Nile.
Jo Jo Girl has a yearling colt and weanling filly by Shamus Award.
Kermadec covered the daughter of Reset last spring.
Jojo Was A Man is the 39th stakes-winner for the former Emirates Park stalwart Al Maher, who last served in 2022.
