Star sprinter Jimmysstar will bypass the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap and head to the paddock, with connections opting to focus on a lucrative spring campaign rather than press on with his Queensland winter preparation.
The Ciaron Maher-trained gelding had been at the head of futures betting for the Stradbroke despite being winless from five starts this campaign.
Owner Ozzie Kheir confirmed the decision on SENTrack and RSN’s Giddy Up, saying the horse’s long-term interests were the priority.
“We’re going to give him a spell and just target towards the spring,” Kheir said.
“It was a tough decision, to be honest. The best option for the horse is to just give him that break and get him ready for the spring targets.
“If we give him a break now, he’ll get a good three weeks in the sun in Queensland, and then we’ll be able to prep him up, get him ready for the spring, and he’ll be able to run through to hopefully to the last day of the spring carnival.”
Kheir revealed the Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield is the likely starting point for Jimmysstar’s spring preparation.
After that, connections will decide whether to target the $20 million The Everest over 1200 metres or stretch him out towards elite mile races.
“At this stage, we’ve got a first-up run in mind, which is probably going to be a Memsie,” Kheir said.
“I think our first-up run is probably locked away, hence why we decided that this break is needed now because to get to the Memsie we probably need about a three week break and then his training schedule.
“From there, (we can go) from a Memsie into an Everest, like a freshen-up into an Everest.
“Or we can stretch him out further and maybe look towards a Makybe Diva Stakes or towards a King Charles III Stakes.”
Jimmysstar is currently rated a $15 chance for The Everest and $11 for the King Charles, highlighting the regard in which he is held despite not winning this preparation.
The decision to freshen the son of Per Incanto now could prove a wise one, with connections hoping a break will allow him to return at peak fitness for some of the richest and most prestigious races of the spring.
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