Dual Group 1 winner Jimmysstar will kick off his spring campaign in Saturday’s $1 million Concorde Stakes (1000m) at Randwick as he builds towards The Everest.
Trainer Ciaron Maher told racing.com the five-year-old to follow a similar path to former stablemate Bella Nipotina, who ran in the Concorde and Premiere Stakes before winning last year’s $20 million Everest.
“I was toying whether to kick him off in this race or in two weeks’ time but just the way he’s prepped up, it would be a similar preparation to what Bella did,” Maher said.
After the Concorde, Jimmysstar is expected to line up in the Group 2 Premiere Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on October 4, two weeks before The Everest on October 18.
Maher believes the gelding, formerly trained in New Zealand, has further improvement to come after a breakout campaign last season.
“In four Group 1s, he was able to secure two and wasn’t too far away in the other two,” Maher said. “I feel he’s got a bit more to come, and he’s certainly trialled up in good order. You can just ride him where he’s comfortable and let him hit the line.”
Maher added that Jimmysstar’s ability to perform fresh made the Concorde an ideal starting point. “The aim will be a couple of prep runs and then hopefully have him right to go,” he said.
