Retired Everest winner Bella Nipotina won’t be there in October to defend her title but trainer Ciaron Maher has unearthed a potential replacement in scintillating All Aged Stakes winner Jimmysstar.
The five-year-old has come of age this preparation, claiming the Oakleigh Plate (1100m) first-up and adding a second major in Saturday’s final Group 1 race of the Sydney autumn carnival, his efforts in between including a fast-finishing fourth in the T J Smith Stakes (1200m).
Maher is hoping the gelding has done enough to secure a slot in The Everest (1200m), the champion trainer declaring the five-year-old will be better again in the spring.
“It is a real ‘çome out’ preparation for Jimmy this time. Four runs, all Group One races,” Maher said.
“I was thinking about the Everest after the Oakleigh (Plate). Hopefully that cements him his place.
“The other day, he ran home quicker time in the T J (Smith Stakes) than he did in the Oakleigh Plate and his Oakleigh Plate was blistering.
“He is just a very good horse and I’m sure he will be making his presence felt in The Everest.”
Jimmysstar was brilliantly ridden by Ethan Brown, delivering him his sixth Group 1 win of the season and first in Sydney.
Maher labelled it a “cool ride” with Brown settling Jimmysstar $6 in betting midfield and getting him into the clear in the straight to power home and score by a half-length over Joliestar ($9) with Sunshine In Paris ($15) another three-quarters of a length away third.
“Those big riders in the big races, it’s the confidence. And that is a very confident ride,” Maher said.
“I said to ‘Browny’, maybe don’t let him have a pick of grass when he’s at the barriers like last start. He may be a little bit more switched on.”
Maher said he had been considering a Queensland campaign for Jimmysstar but would let the dust settle before determining his next move.
Brown’s incredible season comes two years after he suffered severe internal injuries and three fractured vertebrae in a horror race fall in the 2023 Australian Guineas.
After making an initial comeback, he took an indefinite break from riding as he struggled to fully recover before returning to the saddle in January last year.
“Through that fall and my time in hospital, I was very close to hanging the boots up but there was something deep down telling me that I’m not finished yet and I’d be dirty on myself if I didn’t have a crack again,” Brown said.
Jimmysstar gave Brown a stakes double after he earlier steered Bois D’Argent to victory in the JRA Plate (2000m).
T J Smith Stakes winner Briasa started a $3.90 All Aged Stakes (1400m) favourite and hit the front in the straight but was overpowered in the final 100m to finish fourth.
“He quickened up well but probably didn’t see the 1400 metres out as strongly as we would have hoped,” jockey Tyler Schiller said.
