Jimmysstar produced a breathtaking first-up performance to claim the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate at Caulfield on Saturday, February 22.
Trained by Ciaron Maher and ridden by Ethan Brown, the five-year-old gelding stormed home from off the pace to capture the 1100m sprint in dominant fashion.
Breaking cleanly from barrier 14, Jimmysstar settled midfield while Insurrection and Golden Boom set a strong tempo early.
As the field turned for home, Arabian Summer made a bold move up the middle, but Jimmysstar, unleashed by Brown, surged past his rivals in the final furlong.
With an explosive turn of foot, he powered past She’s Bulletproof and Rey Magnerio to score by a length and a quarter at $8 with the top horse racing bookmakers.
Post-race, Brown was effusive in his praise for Jimmysstar.
“Yeah. I haven’t had a horse probably go as quick ever. He flew away. What a training performance. Having a 1,400-metre horse first up fresh up in an Oakleigh Plate and run like that. It’s quite amazing.
Trainer Ciaron Maher was thrilled with the performance and praised Jimmysstar’s versatility.
“He’s always had that X-factor. Some thought I was crazy running him over 1100m first-up, but he was just electric today. He was well-managed in New Zealand before coming over, and we’ve placed him carefully.
“I was thinking about the Doncaster, but after that performance, the Canterbury Stakes might be an option. He’s got plenty of options now, and we’ll let the horse tell us where he goes next.”
Currently, Jimmysstar is an $8 chance with Neds Bookmaker in the Group 1 Canterbury Stakes set for Randwik on March 8.
With this victory, Jimmysstar now boasts an impressive record of 16 starts for eight wins and over $1.45 million in prize money.
Connections are weighing up his next move, with the Canterbury Stakes and Doncaster Handicap both potential targets.
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