‘Jimmy’ out to be a Memsie star
Jimmysstar (NZ) (Per Incanto) is set to make one of his rare appearances in Melbourne when he kicks off his spring campaign at Caulfield in the Gr.1 Memsie Stakes (1400m).
The Ciaron Maher-trained galloper has been a good money-spinner for the stable, amassing more than A$8.8 million in prize money from his 11 wins and nine placings in 28 starts.
Jimmysstar started his career in New Zealand and, after three runs, made his way to the Maher stable, where he had immediate success at Bendigo and Cranbourne.
After two more starts, Jimmysstar began his travels up the eastern seaboard of Australia, finding his way to Newcastle, Eagle Farm and Scone.
Jimmysstar raced exclusively in Melbourne during the 2024 Spring Carnival and commenced his 2025 autumn campaign there before his travels began again, culminating in success in the Gr.1 All-Aged Stakes (1400m) at Randwick.
The gelding had three starts in Sydney last spring before returning to Melbourne to claim the Gr.1 C F Orr Stakes (1400m), while his autumn started at Caulfield with an unplaced run in the Gr.1 William Reid Stakes (1200m) before he headed north to Sydney and then on to Brisbane for a further four runs.
Jimmysstar has done most of his preparation in Sydney, including a course-proper gallop at Warwick Farm on Monday ahead of Saturday's return in the Memsie Stakes.
Maher could not be happier with Jimmysstar's preparation and said he had seen the old spark in the now seven-year-old.
"His two jump-outs have been very sharp this prep and I'm just rapt with the way he's come up," Maher said.
"You could say his runs in the autumn were not right up to his best, but he seems to have come back really well and seems in a good spot.
"I'm really looking forward to kicking off in the Memsie. The 1400 (metres) is arguably his best trip at the moment and Caulfield, he's got a great record as well.
"He's raced the best plenty of times. He was very good against Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress) over six (furlongs, 1200m) and you would think he's better over seven (1400m).
"He's got a good base and has come up well and I'm sure he will make his presence felt."
Maher said there were plenty of options for Jimmysstar following Saturday's return, including a possible return to Sydney for The Everest.
Jimmysstar ran third behind Ka Ying Rising and Tempted (Street Boss) last year after covering ground, before going on to win the Russell Balding Stakes (1300m) and C F Orr.
"He ran huge in The Everest from the wide gate," Maher said.
"He did plenty of work and it was a very good run at the six (furlongs).
"It's a path that has been done before by I Wish I Win. He ran in the Memsie and then went back to an Everest and was very good.
"He could also go out to a mile as well. We'll see how he goes on Saturday, but it's good to have options.” - RAS Newswire
Savagram set for stakes test at Rosehill
Promising Savabeel colt Savagram (NZ) will be given an early opportunity to confirm his spring credentials when he steps up to stakes company in Saturday’s Gr.3 Up And Coming Stakes (1300m) at Rosehill.
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained three-year-old is one of three runners for the stable in the A$250,000 feature, alongside Plagiarism (Written By) and Savvy Diamond (NZ) (Savabeel).
Savagram and stablemate Plagiarism share favouritism at $4.50, while Savvy Diamond is rated an $11 chance.
Savagram makes the significant leap from maiden company following an impressive debut victory over 1200m at Canterbury earlier this month, where he led throughout under Tim Clark and accelerated strongly to score by a length and a half.
Bott has been pleased with the progress Savagram has made since that performance and believes Saturday’s race will provide a valuable guide to where the colt fits among Sydney’s emerging three-year-olds.
“He's a beautiful horse, a really imposing individual,” Bott said.
“I thought it was a very impressive performance that we saw at Canterbury on debut.
“He's open to some nice improvement which we have seen him take during his training leading into Saturday and the further we can stretch him out, the better he is going to be suited, but I feel there is a good deal of class about him.”
The Gr.1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Randwick remains the likely longer-term objective for Savagram, although Bott is keeping an open mind about his programme.
“We have got him down as a Spring Champion Stakes horse at present and while we are working towards that, we haven't closed the door on any other options as well,” he said.
“I think we will learn a lot more about him each run and the improvement that he takes. We are willing to adapt where we need to.”
Regular rider Tim Clark shares Bott’s high opinion of Savagram and believes the colt has the physical attributes to develop into a high-class three-year-old.
“He's got good size, he's a well put together horse,” Clark told Racing NSW.
Clark acknowledged Saturday represents a substantial rise in grade but believes Savagram’s professionalism and natural ability will stand him in good stead.
“It's never easy going from a maiden to a Group race but he's a really nice horse, he's quite progressive, and it'll be interesting to see how he measures up,” he said.
“We'll find out where he's at and where he should possibly head. I really like the horse, he's a really nice colt I have a lot of time for.”
Savagram is a full-brother to the stable’s 2023 Gr.1 Australian Derby (2400m) winner Major Beel (NZ) (Savabeel) and the Roger James and Robert Wellwood-trained Group Three winner Solid Gold (NZ) (Savabeel).
Bred by Waikato Stud, Savagram is by champion sire Savabeel out of the O’Reilly mare Gram and was sold by the Matamata nursery for A$325,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Waikato Stud principal Mark Chittick retained an ownership interest in the colt, who will carry 53kg and jump from barrier three under Clark on Saturday. - NZ Racing Desk
Marsh hunting further Guineas honours
While all eyes are on Stephen Marsh’s glamour mare Well Written (Written Tycoon) ahead of next Saturday’s Gr.1 Proisir Plate (1400m), the Cambridge horseman’s attention is firmly focussed on this weekend’s racing as he bids to add another Guineas trophy to his mantle.
Marsh will head to Wanganui on Saturday with talented fillies So Fear (NZ) (Ardrossan) and Perfect Chaos (NZ) (Hello Youmzain), with the pair set to clash in the Listed HS Dyke Wanganui Guineas 3YO (1200m).
Go Racing filly So Fear showed plenty of promise as a juvenile, winning her first two starts before placing in the Listed Star Way Stakes (1200m) behind stablemate Miss Janet (Home Affairs), while Perfect Chaos has yet to finish outside the money in her four starts to date, and Marsh intends to keep that record intact this weekend.
Marsh has been pleased with the way both fillies are building into their preparations, having placed in their lead-in trials, and he is looking forward to seeing what they can do first-up this weekend.
“I am thrilled with them, they had good campaigns at the backend of their two-year-old seasons,” Marsh said.
“So Fear was very good, she won two in a row and was stakes placed, and Perfect Chaos was probably unlucky not to win a race, but her worst race was third and never actually put in a bad race.
“They have both come back well, they have had the one trial, and you just hope the track keeps on improving. I think they are going into it forward and ready, and I think they get through a little bit of rain.”
Both fillies are on a path towards the Gr.1 Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton in November, which Marsh won last year with Well Written, and he said the pair will likely follow a similar path to their stablemate.
“It is their first-up run and it is a long overnight trip to Wanganui,” Marsh said. “You get them home and see how they are and put them on that programme to try and get down to a Guineas.
“You have got Ellerslie for the Soliloquy (Gr.2, 1400m), and races like that, which we used last year. But we will keep an open mind what we do, depending on how they go and how they come through.”
Perfect Chaos is currently a $3.50 favourite for the Wanganui Guineas, with So Fear the second elect, alongside Out Of The Blue (NZ) (Tivaci), at $4.80.
Marsh will also be represented at Wanganui by Unmistakable (NZ) (Almanzor) in the Wanganui Insurance Brokers Maiden (1200m). - Joshua Smith
Joshua Smith
Joshua Smith
NZ Racing Desk
