Trainer Ciaron Maher has been waiting for the right time to apply blinkers to the race day gear of Jimmysstar.
That day has finally arrived with Jimmysstar down to run in blinkers for the first time in the Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on Sunday.
Jimmysstar won a trial in the headgear on September 14 and was sporting blinkers in a gallop at Caulfield on Tuesday morning under race jockey Ethan Brown.
“I’ve thought about it for a while,” Maher said.
“His work is not much to go off but he likes to truck up in a trial.
“It was hard what to make of his last start and whether it was Angel Capital leaning on him, or what it was, but I was certainly very happy with him leading into that race and I’m certainly happy with him leading into this race.
“I think they can only help him, but if he can get the right run, that will be more so, especially if he can get to the outside and unleash, like we know he can.”
Jimmysstar resumed with what many considered an underwhelming performance in the Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on August 29, finishing ninth behind Beiwacht.
Maher said Jimmysstar had done well since and had not given up hope of the gelding being a contender in The Everest at Randwick next month.
Jimmysstar finished third to Ka Ying Rising in last year’s edition.
“The thing is how the horse is, and he’s come forward from his first-up run,” Maher said.
“He was very good in The Everest last year and we’ll certainly be keen to have a look at that again, providing he is in the right form.
“He did it the tough way last year and was very strong, so hopefully he runs back to form and we’re having those discussions.”
Jimmysstar has drawn barrier eight in the 13-horse field on Sunday.
The rail is out to the 13m mark on Sunday which is not ideal for a Group 1 contest.
“To have a rail out this far is probably not what everyone wants, especially with Jimmy,” Maher said.
“But they could make ground on Saturday and if they can make ground again, it should not be a worry.
“Everyone is hoping for a fair track, I guess.”
