Star sprinter Jimmysstar is slowly building towards an autumn return with the Gr.1 William Reid Stakes (1200m) on March 21 which will be held at Caulfield this year an early target.
The six-year-old son of Per Incanto has an affinity for the Caulfield track and signed off his spring campaign with a brilliant win in the Gr.1 C.F. Orr Stakes (1400m) at the venue.
The Ciaron Maher-trained Kiwi import has amassed $6.6 million in prizemoney to date, and the triple Group One winner has come back as good as ever according to regular rider Ethan Brown.
“He’s flying. He had his first little run-up on Tuesday, and he has had a very long slow build-up,” Brown said.
“They’re taking their time with him but he is as good as ever. He is just at a prime age now and he has proved himself over these last couple of preparations.
“His whole demeanor has improved. He knows his job and he is very relaxed and he is unreal at the moment.
Brown’s star has risen in tandem with Jimmy, and the 26-year-old hoop will take up a short stint in Hong Kong in late April, which will not clash with Jimmysstar’s campaign.
“When I was growing up you would see these top-tier jockeys who follow these good horses through and to be in that position to follow one through is unreal,” Brown said.
“I saw something the other day where Dan O’Sullivan rated him as Australia’s best sprinter.
“That is quite a proud moment, I guess, to be able to stick with a horse like him. He has put me on the map, he has been very good to me.”
A ten-time Group One winning jockey, Brown said he is looking forward to Jimmysstar clashing again with champion sprinter Ka Ying Rising in the A$20 million Gr.1 The Everest (1200m) in the spring.
“He ran his heart out last year and would have made things interesting if he had drawn a gate,” Brown said.
“I think he has come back as good as ever and hopefully he can show that this preparation and again next campaign for his Everest prep.” – NZ Racing Desk
