His Spring Carnival program might be a little different this year, but there will be a similar starting point for Jimmysstar.
Ciaron Maher’s explosive gelding will have his first trial of the campaign over 900 metres at Warwick Farm on Tuesday morning.
The son of Per Incanto first appeared at the trials last season on August 7, the first of two hitouts before resuming in the Concorde Stakes (1000m) before progressing to the $20 million The Everest (1200m).
Whether the seven-year-old gets to the world’s richest sprint again this year remains to be seen, with his 2026 preparation to launch in the 1400-metre Group 1 Memsie Stakes at Caulfield on August 29.
Jimmysstar campaigned right through until Group 1 Kingsford Smith Cup (1300m) on May 30 last preparation and Maher’s national assistant trainer Jack Turnbull said a longer option shaped as a more suitable first-up target this year.
“He only had a short break and has been in work, so he looks spot on,” Turnbull said.
“Coming back off that break with residual at 14 (hundred metres) being an older horse could really be the right recipe.
“If he’s on song, which he should be and the trial will tell us a little bit more as well, then it looks like a nice kick-off point for him.”
Jimmysstar shares the $8 third line in Memsie Stakes betting, behind glamour mare Sheza Alibi ($2) and Angel Capital ($6).
The Memsie Stakes will help determine a spring pathway for Jimmysstar with the $5 million Group 1 King Charles III Stakes (1600m) on the same day as The Everest October 17 – a possible target.
He is one of a number of stars who will be in action at Warwick Farm with Golden Slipper winner Guest House, Spring Champion Stakes winner Attica and classy filly Chayan, who was recently bought by Coolmore for $5.6 million, among his rivals in Trial No 3.
Stablemates Tempted and Another Wil will step out in the 900m trial prior, which also includes Marhoona and Birdman, while Light Infantry Man and Gringotts are up against Chris Waller stars Aeliana, Beiwacht, Buckaroo, Campione D’Italia and Fireball in the opening trial, over 1000m.
