Photo: Bruno Cannatelli
Brilliant New Zealand-bred gelding Jimmysstar lifted his Group One tally to three with another scintillating performance in Saturday’s A$1 million CF Orr Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield, in which progeny of Little Avondale Stud stallion Per Incanto finished first and third.
Jimmysstar (Per Incanto) burst into the top level of Australian sprinters last season with explosive victories in the Gr.1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) and All Aged Stakes (1400m).
The Ciaron Maher-trained gelding has gone on to perform at the highest level in Sydney this spring, running a gallant third from a wide draw in the A$20 million Gr.1 The Everest (1200m) before returning to winning form in the A$3 million Russell Balding Stakes (1300m).
Maher was delighted to see him triumph on the Group One stage again on Saturday.
“He’s a ripper,” he said. “I was so confident over the last couple of weeks with him. I know he’d had a few runs in big races, but we only kept him fresh enough to run at six furlongs (1200m). He was better at six and a half (1300m) and I knew he’d be better again today.”
Regular rider Ethan Brown gave Jimmysstar a perfect run on Saturday, keeping him in striking distance and then letting him rip down the outside of the home straight.
Fellow Per Incanto gelding Evaporate kicked hard off the corner and was going to take some catching, but Jimmysstar changed gears and soon powered past.
Angel Capital ran on from the back to provide a late challenge, but Jimmysstar had things well in control and crossed the finish line a length in front. Evaporate was the same margin away in third.
“He’s my favourite horse by far,” Brown said. “He’s such a beauty. It’s well publicised, my love for him, and it’s obvious why.
“He wasn’t easy to deal with early doors. Even when he won the Oakleigh Plate, he was very full of himself, but he has really come of age since then. He’s turned into the ultimate professional and his races are showing it.
“I believed I was on the best horse, so I rode him accordingly. He began really well. I thought halfway up the hill ‘woo boy, come back’.
“Once that rush came across, he relaxed beautifully in what was a good tempo. When they came up for air a bit down the side, then quickened I just had to be on top of that. He does hit a flat spot.
“He sort of felt Angel Capital there and I think that helped him and off he went. He gives me such an amazing feeling and he’s such a good horse.”
Maher was also quick to give credit to Brown for his part in the Jimmysstar story.
“Browny just rides him so well,” he said. “He was in the driver’s seat most of the way. He’s got a great rapport with him and he’s a great fella.
“I also can’t thank my team enough. He’s been to Sydney for a long time and he’s come down to Melbourne seamlessly. This was very good to watch and I’m proud of everyone.”
Maher is now already casting his mind ahead to the 2026 edition of The Everest next October.
“He’s earned a breather now,” he said. “I did have him in in Perth, but I thought now he’s earned a nice break. It’ll all probably be centred around The Everest next year, I’d imagine.”
The winner of two of his three starts in New Zealand for Hastings trainer Guy Lowry, a majority share in Jimmysstar was sold to clients of leading Australian trainer Ciaron Maher following a Rating 65 win at Hawke’s Bay, and the chestnut has now gone on to amass more than A$6.6 million in stakes. He has recorded 11 wins and seven placings in a 23-race career.
Jimmysstar was bred by Wairarapa couple Pete and Chrissy Algie in partnership with Masterton’s Little Avondale Stud. Stud proprietors Sam and Catriona Williams along with the Algies remain in the ownership of the star galloper.
The chestnut gelding is by Little Avondale Stud’s outstanding stallion Per Incanto out of Anniesstar.
That daughter of Zed won five races including the Listed Feilding Gold Cup (2100m), while her full-brother Jacksstar was a seven-time winner up to Group Two level and also placed in the Gr.1 Auckland Cup (3200m) and her half-brother Bourbonaire was runner-up in the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m).
Anniesstar is the dam of three named foals, all of them have been winners, including Charms Star, winner of the Gr.3 Manawatu Breeders’ Stakes (2000m), and she was also runner-up in the Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) and Queensland Oaks (2200m) as a three-year-old
