Craig Kerry
Ciaron Maher hopes a kinder run for Jimmysstar and a twofold change for Observer will help both bounce back from disappointing efforts when they step out on day one of the Championships at Randwick on Saturday.
Touted as Australia’s best sprinter after a stellar spring, Jimmysstar returned with seventh as favourite in the group 1 William Reid Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield, finishing two and a quarter lengths off winner Jigsaw from a start in gate one.
The performance cast doubt over his place in the $3 million TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) on Saturday, but Maher has pressed on with the six-year-old, which overcame a tough run in the $20 million Everest to finish third before winning the Russell Balding Stakes and group 1 CF Off Stakes in the spring.
Back to the home of the Everest, where he also won last year’s All Aged Stakes, Jimmysstar has gate two in the TJ and was a $4 second pick with TAB behind Tentyris ($3).
Maher said Jimmysstar had kick-back in his throat and other excuses in the William Reid.
“The track was off, [jockey] Mark [Zahra] said he jumped out of the barriers and he got knocked,” Maher said.
“He was wanting to come out like he normally does, and, as you would, he got another one again late. He had a couple of black eyes, and stuff down his throat.
“How much of a difference that makes or doesn’t make, it’s hard to quantify, but I was rapt going into the run, and he seems to have come out it well.
“His runs leading up to the Everest were huge, his Everest run was huge. The next one was big, so hopefully it’s just one little blip in his preparation.”
Ethan Brown takes over on Jimmysstar and Zahra rides Tentyris in the TJ.
Observer, on a four-race winning streak taking in the group 1 VRC Derby and Australian Guineas, was another beaten favourite last start and heads to the $2 million Australian Derby (2400m), where he was battling former Godolphin-owned colt Green Spaces for favouritism.
Green Spaces, a son of Street Boss, finished the better for second to Autumn Boy last start in the Rosehill Guineas (2000m) when Observer sat outside the leader and hung on for third.
Record-breaking jockey James McDonald takes over from Craig Williams on the Ghaiyyath colt, which was out to $3.50 (TAB) from gate 12, just behind Green Spaces ($3), which drew six.
Maher was not concerned about the draw and was confident Observer would bounce back with a gear change and more suitable run.
“He generally bounces quick, puts himself on speed, but you want to be smooth in over that trip,” Maher said.
“I popped a Norton bit back on him again. He won the Derby in that in the spring.
“It was sort of a muddling-run race last start. He prefers a nice pace, it plays to his strengths.
“He’s come through it really well. His prep’s been smooth. He worked well [Tuesday] and I think he should bounce back for sure.
“His old man had a high cruising spread, strong stayer, and we probably just didn’t quite get that in his last run in the Guineas.
“He’s an athletic horse, clean-winded and he’s bred for that trip. That’s what they brought his sire out here for, to breed horses like him.”
In the Doncaster Mile, Maher was rapt with the form of his pair, Gringotts ($17) and Vivy Air ($26).
Gringotts will carry topweight of 58.5kg but a draw in gate two and strong runs heading into the $4 million handicap have pleased Maher. He was the best of the rest in Autumn Glow’s George Ryder Stakes (1500m) domination and made up great ground late when first-up in the Canterbury Stakes (1300m).
Vivy Air, runner-up to Gringotts in last year’s Big Dance (1600m) at Randwick then winner of the $2 million Five Diamonds (1800m), flashed home late for third in the group 1 Coolmore Classic (1500m) first-up this preparation. She carries only 51kg on Saturday from gate 11 with Reece Jones aboard.
“Gringotts and Vivy, it’s the exact same weight difference to what they had in the last Big Dance,” Maher noted.
“I think Vivy’s improved and Gringotts is in great order as well, you can’t knock him. He’s going as good or better than ever, he’s in great form.
“[Vivy Air] does improve each prep. Her Big Dance and Five Diamond runs were full of merit.
“She was in Melbourne, and I was going for the Shaftesbury, and I thought she was going too good for that. She was rattling home [in the Coolmore] and she was against the weights in that race, and she drops now to a nice weight.”
