Multiple Group One winner Jimmysstar (NZ) (Per Incanto) will have a light autumn in preparation for a spring campaign aimed at The Everest.
The Ciaron Maher-trained galloper will kick off in Melbourne with the Gr.1 William Reid Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield before venturing north where he will contest the Gr.1 T J Smith (1200m) and the Gr.1 All-Aged Stakes (1400m), both at Randwick, in April.
After that it will be off to the paddock to prepare for the Gr.1 The Everest (1200m) at Randwick in October, a race he finished third in behind Ka Ying Rising last year.
Maher took advantage of taking Jimmysstar to Caulfield on Tuesday morning in preparation for the William Reid, which will this year be run at Caulfield on March 21.
Jimmysstar has an excellent Caulfield record, winning the Gr.1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) first-up last autumn while at his most recent racetrack appearance he took out the Gr.1 C F Orr Stakes (1400m) in November.
“He spelled well and I’ve just been ticking him over,” Maher said.
“He hasn’t done a lot, but I thought we could bring him away to a nice surface today and warm the cockles up a little bit.
“He seems great. His condition is really good, his action, I’m happy with it.
“I don’t want to give him too taxing an autumn with a view to having him pretty right for a shot at The Everest again.”
Maher concedes Jimmysstar is more effective at 1400m than over the shorter sprint trips, but has a devastating turn of foot, especially fresh.
After finishing third in The Everest, Jimmysstar went on to win the Russell Balding (1300m) at Randwick before making his way to Melbourne to take out the C F Orr.
“He got better as he went along and as the distances slowly increased, winning the Russell Balding and then down here,” Maher said.
“The 1400 metres is probably his pet distance, and we keep him fresher for the ones shorter.
“He likes coming here to Caulfield, he’s got a good record here, and the William Reid, being run here, the conditions suit him and the track suits him.
“So far, so good.”