Jimmy Choux’s trainer John Bary enjoys testing himself and his horse against the best and both are up for the challenge in a star-studded Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
A former international polo player in just his fourth season of training racehorses, Bary has had a dream start to his new career.
Jimmy Choux is the reigning New Zealand Horse of the Year due to his spectacular three-year-old season which netted seven Group wins, three at the highest level including the 2011 Rosehill Guineas on his first visit to Australia.
As a spring four-year-old he won two Group Ones at home and finished second to the ill-fated Pinker Pinker in the Cox Plate.
He goes into Saturday’s Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Randwick at the second start of his autumn preparation having finished seventh, beaten less than three lengths under the steadier of 61kg, in the Group One Easter Handicap at Ellerslie won by Veyron.
The prospect of toppling the likes of Americain, Manighar and More Joyous may look daunting but Bary is as excited as anyone about the weight-for-age clash.
“It’s a great field and it’s great for racing,” Bary said.
“I like to test myself against the best trainers and the horse against the best.
“It’s a challenge I love and it will be awesome.”
Bary was more than happy with Jimmy Choux’s work under race jockey Jonathan Riddell on Tuesday but admitted it was going to take a supreme effort from the horse to win second-up.
“He missed a trial at home because of the hard tracks and had to go into his first race a bit underdone,” he said.
“His fitness may have told in the last little bit but the race was won by a very good horse.
“He did a good, testing bit of work on the wet track at Warwick Farm on Tuesday which was really pleasing.”
Bary can also gain confidence from Jimmy Choux’s second-up record which is a perfect three from three.
Jimmy Choux is scheduled to have just one more run this preparation with the horse’s owner Richard Wood putting a stud career on hold for now to aim at avenging his Cox Plate defeat in October.
“The Cox Plate is the one we want,” Bary said.
“That’s why he is having only three runs this preparation.
“He will go to the Doomben Cup after Saturday and then go home for a spell to get ready for the spring.
“That comes around before you know it.”
A field of eight, six of them Group One winners, will contest the Queen Elizabeth with Jimmy Choux at $10 in TAB Sportsbet’s market which is headed by Doncaster Mile winner More Joyous at $2.40.
Americain is second pick at $3.70 with Manighar the only other runner under double figures at $4.
