A lack of handicap options in Sydney means Willy Jimmy will join his Guy Walter-trained Group One winning stablemate Doctor Doom in Saturday’s Expressway Stakes at Warwick Farm.
Walter scratched Willy Jimmy from Rosehill last Saturday due to a wide barrier and the seven-year-old will take his place in the 1200m weight-for-age sprint.
The gelding made an encouraging return from injury when he finished fourth to Testarhythm in last month’s Takeover Target Stakes at Gosford and is one of six Walter-trained horses entered for the Doncaster Mile in April.
“There are not a lot of open handicaps in Sydney so he finds himself running at weight-for-age,” Walter said.
“He will probably run again two weeks later in the Apollo Stakes and then he may go to Melbourne for the Blamey.
“Doctor Doom is coming back from having bone chips removed. It wasn’t serious but he had a good long spell and has strengthened up considerably.
“He has grown and filled out and is an impressive looking horse.”
The winner of the 2011 Spring Champion Stakes, Doctor Doom has had two easy trials leading into his first-up assignment.
“I don’t think we’ll see the best of him until he gets up to 1800 to 2000 metres,” Walter said.
“He is also in the Doncaster but he may not have the brilliance for that.”
Rodney Quinn has the choice of the stablemates with Nathan Berry to ride the other.
Willy Jimmy is most adept at 1600 metres and acquitted himself well in his only Group One test so far when fourth in the 2011 Epsom Handicap behind three outstanding mares – Secret Admirer, Pinker Pinker and Red Tracer.
Dual Group One winner Streama is also entered for the Doncaster and Walter, the only trainer to claim the trifecta in the famous Randwick mile, says he is more than happy with how the mare has come through her third in a barrier trial on Monday.
“I thought she trialled brilliantly,” he said.
“She has come back extremely well and she will come back in an open handicap at Warwick Farm on the 23rd of this month.
“She will run again two weeks later in either the Liverpool City Cup or the Wiggle then go two weeks to the Coolmore, two weeks to the Queen Of The Turf and then to the Doncaster at her fifth run.”
