Jimmy set to end his autumn drought

The Gr.1 Kingsford-Smith Cup (1300m) shares Group One status on Saturday with the Gr.1 Queensland Derby (2400m) and it looms as a final chance for quality sprinter Jimmysstar (NZ) (Per Incanto) to get on the board this campaign.

A winner of 11 of his 27 starts, Jimmysstar has never completed a preparation without a win and may get his best opportunity this time around as he stretches to the unusual 1300m of the Kingsford-Smith Cup.

Ciaron Maher assistant Jack Turnbull said on Saturday that Jimmysstar had the right form to break through after close-up efforts in the Gr.1 T.J. Smith Stakes (1200m) (fifth), Gr.1 All Aged Stakes (1400m) (third) and Gr.1 Doomben 10,000 (1200m) (fourth).

“He’s fine, he just needs a little bit further,” Turnbull said.

“From where he’s drawn and where he’s been in the run, it’s just been a bit short essentially.”

The Maher stable also has eyes on the sprint feature at Caulfield on Saturday with plans to run Recommendation (Shalaa) in the Listed Bel Esprit Stakes (1100m).

“This has been his target since he went to Adelaide,” Turnbull said of Recommendation.

“He will be on a similar pathway to the last couple of winters through races like the Bletchingly.

“It’s his right trip, the 1100 metres. It’s well documented that’s his go.”