Maher Adamant Black Eyed Jimmy Will Relish Randwick Return
Trainer Ciaron Maher says making excuses isn’t his style but after Jimmysstar (NZ) (Per Incanto) copped a clod down his throat and a couple in his eyes in his first-up run he’s entitled to give him another chance on his return to Randwick on Saturday.
The race in question was the Group 1 William Reid Stakes and ‘Jimmy’ started a short priced favourite but from the moment the gates opened it was like the horse was under attack.
He was ultimately beaten only two lengths and Maher has had to regroup for the Group 1 $3 million Asahi Super Dry TJ Smith Stakes (1200m).
“I don’t like making excuses for them but he had a couple, he had some stuff there in his throat and a couple of black eyes,’’ Maher said.
“I was rapt with him leading into the race and Mark Zahra was pretty adamant that nothing went right.
“The (Caulfield) track was off, Mark said he jumped out of the barriers and got knocked and he was buffeted around a fair bit so he can bounce back.
“How much of a difference that makes or doesn’t make is hard to quantify.
“I had a bit of cardiac arrhythmia watching the race at his last run but he seems to have come through it really well.”
Ethan Brown is reunited with Jimmysstar, $4.60 with TAB on Thursday, and Maher would like to think that he can produce one of his big Randwick performances over the past 12 months.
The six-year-old came from an impossible position to run fourth in the TJ last year then won the Group 1 All Aged Stakes.
In the spring he kept catching the eye in the lead up to his third behind Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress) in the TAB Everest before he turned the $3m Russell Balding Stakes into a one horse race and ended his spring with a Group 1 in Melbourne.
“His runs leading up to the Everest were huge, his Everest run was huge, the next one was big so hopefully it’s just one little blip in his preparation,’’ Maher said.
The Big Dance quinella of Gringotts (NZ) (Per Incanto) and Vivy Air (Hellbent) represent Maher in the Group 1 $4m Doncaster Mile (1600m) and of the duo you get the sense the trainer is warming to the latter as an upset chance.
That’s mainly due to the improvement she’s continuing to show, evidenced by her slashing third in the Group 1 Coolmore Classic first-up, but Maher says Gringotts has a big advantage at the barriers given his 58.5kg.
“He has a big weight so he needs an economical run and from two he generally bounces pretty well and should have a favourable run from there you would think,’’ he said.
“I think him and Vivy have the same weight difference they had in the last Big Dance. I think Vivy has improved and Gringotts is in great order as well, you can’t knock him.”
Gringotts, who started $7 in last year’s Doncaster and ran 11th, chased home Autumn Glow (The Autumn Sun) in the George Ryder Stakes at his second run back.
