Trainer Ciaron Maher is yet to give Jimmysstar the all-clear to run on the opening day of The Championships after the sprinter suffered two black eyes in his return at Caulfield.
Jimmysstar finished seventh as a short-priced favourite in the William Reid Stakes (1200m) on March 21 and also swallowed some Caulfield turf during the race.
Maher wants to see the gelding work again before confirming a start in the TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday.
The sprinter recovered from the eye injuries within 48 hours and travelled to Sydney last week, having a light canter on Saturday morning.
Maher was not making excuses for the performance but admitted the run was difficult to explain.
Regular rider Ethan Brown will return to the saddle if Jimmysstar lines up in the TJ Smith, after Mark Zahra partnered him at Caulfield.
Zahra is set to ride Tentyris in Saturday’s Group 1 sprint.
“We’ll see how he works,” Maher said.
“I don’t really like making excuses, but Mark said he got sort of terrorised. He is a horse that does his own thing a bit, bridles up.
“I didn’t mind him being on the inside, but he jumped, got hit straight out of the barrier. He was wanting to get out, but he got pushed back in and then at the furlong got a decent bump as well.
“I don’t like making excuses and Mark is a pretty straight shooter, and he was like ‘nothing went right’.
“I was very happy going in, but I’m a little bit on the fence (afterwards).”
Aside from the two black eyes, Maher said Jimmysstar had come through the race without any other issues.
Maher also confirmed stablemate Tempted will bypass the TJ Smith Stakes and instead head to the Arrowfield 3YO Sprint (1200m) at Randwick on April 11.
Punters can track markets for the TJ Smith Stakes and upcoming features via leading Australian betting sites.
