After producing one of the eye-catching runs in the The Everest, Jimmysstar ($2.50F) returned to Randwick and showed his class with a dominant performance in the $3,000,000 Russell Balding Stakes.
The Ciaron Maher-trained gelding travelled comfortably midfield before being angled into clear air and charging past his rivals to score by two and three-quarter lengths. Lady Shenandoah ($6.50) chased bravely for second, while Mazu ($26) stuck on gamely to claim third a further neck away.
Once known for swooping from the back, the six-year-old has become more adaptable this campaign — something the stable has placed deliberate emphasis on.
Stable representative Johann Gerard-Dubord said improving his tactical responsiveness has been a key focus.
“Obviously his biggest asset is his turn of foot, we tried to train that this prep and we found out in The Everest,” Gerard-Dubord said.
“His run in The Everest was good and to back it up two weeks later after such a big run, it’s never easy to do but he’s such a tough horse.
He just keeps getting better.”
In addition to the winning purse, Jimmysstar collected another $1.7 million in Racing NSW incentives for continuing through to this feature event.
Jockey Ethan Brown, who delivered a poised and confident ride, was full of admiration for the Group 1 winner.
“I love this horse so much, he’s a beauty,” Brown said.
“He was entitled to feel the pinch off the last run but Ciaron just guided him through to this race and he performed like it was his grand final.”
When asked whether the victory might help him secure a spot in Sydney’s pricey coastline suburbs, Brown laughed.
“Maybe a deposit,” he quipped.
Connections are now weighing up whether to head south for the Group 1 Champions Sprint at Flemington next Saturday.
“He deserves a spell, but we’ll have to see how he pulls up,” Gerard-Dubord said.
“We did that with Bella (Nipotina) last year, it’s not out of the equation.”
The gelding currently sits at $8 in futures markets for the 1200m Flemington sprint.