A fresh and raring to go Jimmysstar (NZ) (Per Incanto), taking on a classy field of sprinters – including a hard-fit Jigsaw (Manhattan Rain) in career-best form – it looks a mouthwatering William Reid Stakes on Saturday.
Jimmysstar is a triple G1 victor, a winner of five first-up efforts from seven, and was super behind the world’s best sprinter, Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress), at his last go over 1200m in the Everest.
At $1.90, the son of Per Incanto is the market’s clear top pick and another positive for Ben Asgari is the booking of Mark Zahra.
Chatting with Ciaron Maher’s Bloodstock Manager Will Bourne and Gareth Hall on Giddy Up, Asgari noted Zahra would have been booked on Observer (Ghyyaith) in the Rosehill Guineas and presumably a Golden Slipper chance, yet has elected to stay south.
“It’s a good push that Mark Zahra is happy enough to stay in Melbourne and ride him, and not head to Sydney,” Asgari said.
“You imagine he would have had some good options in Sydney too, with five G1s up there… (Observer) was the main one and he’s turned that down to stay and ride Jimmy.
“He’s top three jockeys in the country, for sure, and the best thing is, as a punter, you love putting your money on him.”
Asgari is also keen to see the noticeably more adaptable racing pattern Jimmysstar showed last campaign, which saw him settle a lot closer to the action.
Additionally, the Ciaron Maher team’s public intent, as well as Zahra’s glowing praise after Jimmysstar’s latest jumpout, are big ticks for the returning G1 galloper, even against the red-hot Jigsaw, who will likely be bowling along in front.
“He’s not going to be there first-up needing a run, like he normally would, because there’s the plan to run in the TJ Smith second-up,” Asgari said, echoing the stable’s comments earlier this week.
“Last preparation, he showed the ability to put himself into a race, and still be as effective, if not even more so… he doesn’t have to be out the back, he just makes him so hard to beat.
“The way Jigsaw is going, he’s going to be out in front, you’d imagine performing consistently as he has this preparation. He can’t be below his best, Jimmy, anyway.
“But without wanting to be too boring, I think Jimmy is clearly deserving of favouritism.”
CMR’s Will Bourne confirmed the Maher camp is positive about this Saturday, to say the least.
“He’s low-flying, I’ve never heard them so bullish about the horse. Jack and Ciaron are just thrilled,” Bourne said.
“Zahra got off him at Cranbourne the other morning and just said ‘wowee’.”