Jimmysstar may shed blinkers for Orr defence
A possible gear change could accompany Jimmysstar (NZ) (Per Incanto) into Saturday’s A$1 million Gr.1 Sportsbet C F Orr Stakes (1400m) at Sandown, with connections considering removing his blinkers for his title defence.
The Ciaron Maher-trained seven-year-old won the Gr.1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) on September 27 wearing blinkers for the first time, but has finished outside the placings at his two most recent starts.
Maher’s national assistant trainer Jack Turnbull reported the gelding had worked well without headgear on Monday morning, with a decision still to be made ahead of the Group One contest.
“We'll have a discussion about headgear,” Turnbull said.
“We might take that off, up to 1400 metres, but we'll see where he draws.”
Jimmysstar was a $4.50 chance in Sportsbet’s all-in market for the feature on Tuesday, with Turnbull adamant the gelding is in ominous shape ahead of his weekend assignment at Sandown.
“It's the best we've had him this prep, physically,” Turnbull said.
“He took a little while to turn with his skin and coat.
“He appears to be in really good shape and will head there at the peak of his powers.
“He has been threatening – we just drew a bad gate last start and got too far back and had too much work to make up.
“We are confident he's in the right place, he just needs to draw a barrier.”
The defending champion heads to Sandown with a career record of 32 starts for 12 wins, five seconds and four thirds as he seeks another Orr Stakes success.
