Blinkers first time for Jimmy in Manikato

Another sharp workout at Caulfield on Tuesday morning by Jimmysstar (NZ) (Per Incanto) is likely to see the Group One star wear blinkers for the first time in a race in Sunday’s $2 million Gr.1 Manikato Stakes (1200m).

‘’He had the shades on when he trialled the other day and he had them on again this morning and he’s worked very well, as you would expect him to,’’ trainer Ciaron Maher said after regular rider Ethan Brown took the seven-year-old through his paces.

‘’I’ve thought about it (blinkers) for a while.

‘’His work is not really much to go off as he likes to track up in a trial. His race (Memsie Stakes) was sort of a hard one to make of that whether it was Angel (Capital) sort of leaning on him or what it was.

‘’I was certainly happy leading into the race and I am very happy leading into this race.

‘’I think they (blinkers) can only help him but if he gets the right run probably more so if he gets to the outer and can unleash like we know he can. He certainly showed he can do that and his time was very slick in the jumpout the other day.

‘’It will be interesting (1) how the track is and (2) what the field looks like and where we are drawn.

‘’The main thing is the horse is really well. He’s only come forward from his first-up run.

‘’He was very good in The Everest last year and certainly be keen to have a look at that again, provided he is in the right form. Hopefully he runs back to form and we can have those discussions.’’