Jimmysstar bites punters again as Neasham imports deliver
Though her stable star may have retired, the Zaaki connection is still helping Annabel Neasham tread winning paths with imports as a step back in grade saw Might Ulysses take out the Listed Brisbane Mile (1600m) at Eagle Farm.
Finishing outside of the placings on his Australian debut in the Group 1 George Ryder Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill on March 24, the five-year-old gelding found the company and conditions to his liking while stablemate Jimi Hendrix ($21), also having his second Australian start, finished second.
Five starts back Mighty Ulysses ($31) ran fifth in the Group 3 Strensall Stakes (1771m) at York in England while Jimi Hendrix also ran fifth in the same race in 2023.
Four years earlier, Zaaki won the Strensall 12 months before her move to Neasham’s Sydney stable.
“Annabel was quite confident with both of them as they are both nice horses in the making,” Todd Pollard, Neasham’s assistant trained, said.
“She thinks that Mighty Ulysses has a bright future before him, and both of these horses raced against each other in Europe in the Summer Mile.
“That is a race that Zaaki ran second in as well so there are three horses that haven’t won it but it is a nice race to find horses out of.”
With five wins in 12 starts, the application of ear muffs suited Mighty Ulysses in ironing out some race day quirkiness.
The $1.75 favourite Jimmysstar made a run down the centre of the Eagle Farm lane but couldn’t rein in the Neasham pair in a third successive failure as an odds-on favourite.
“He had a bit of a break and going to the mile, he was alright,” trainer Ciaron Maher said from Adelaide.
He added that the plan is still to proceed to the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) but the challenge remains for the four-year-old gelding to quality for it.
More Racing News
Lucky in line for Goodwood honours
Training partners Will Clarken and Niki O’Shea will chase a hometown first when they saddle Extremely Lucky in The Goodwood at Morphettville. After starting his career in Adelaide, Extremely Lucky will be having his second run back for Clarken and O’Shea in Saturday’s Group 1 sprint over 1200m after a stint in Sydney...
Lindsay Park to split 2YO’s at Caulfield
The Lindsay Park team of Ben, Will & J D Hayes are expected to rely on only one of their horses in a two-year-old race at Caulfield. Just For Show is likely to be the stable’s sole representative in the Catanach’s Jewellers Handicap (1100m) on Saturday. The Lindsay Park team also accepted with debutant Thats...
Learning To Fly out of The Goodwood field
Learning To Fly has been scratched from the Group One Goodwood at Morphettville and will return home to Sydney as connections consider their next move. Trainer Annabel Neasham said the three-year-old was showing signs that she wasn’t one hundred per cent, prompting her withdrawal from Saturday’s $1 million sprint. “Unfortunately, she is a little...
Queensland Oaks agenda for Tacumwah
The Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman stable is likely to add to their Brisbane team after Tacumwah scored at Sandown. Tacumwah holds a nomination in the Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2200m) at Eagle Farm on June 8 and Coleman said the filly was likely to head in that direction after her victory in...
Stable yet to make a call on exciting colt ahead of Ken Russell Memorial Classic
Chris Waller will decide on Wednesday evening whether promising colt Imperial Force heads to the Sunshine Coast for a key lead-up run towards next month’s Group One JJ Atkins in Brisbane. The last-start Canterbury winner is a $5 equal favourite for the Ken Russell Memorial Classic (1200m) at Caloundra and a...
Four time G1 winner Cascadian bows out
The nine-year-old retires with one of the more remarkable records in Australian racing, having won four Group One races- one in every calendar year from 2021-2024. Originally trained by Andre Fabre in France, Cascadian came to James Cummings in the Spring of 2019, already rated 117 by Timeform having placed in the Group...
Stokes pair thriving ahead of The Goodwood
Since Phillip Stokes began training Climbing Star as a sprinter, the transformation in the mare has been astonishing. Stokes’ son Tommy has been overseeing the final two weeks of Climbing Star’s, and stablemate Stretan Angel’s, preparation for The Goodwood, a Group 1 sprint over 1200m at Morphettville on Saturday. Climbing Star and Stretan...
Business as usual for Miller and Amelia’s Jewel in The Goodwood
Like the famed historic Italian automobile, Miller deems Amelia’s Jewel as his slick, fast, finely tuned equine machine. Come Saturday, Miller will have to hand over the keys to his Ferrari as one of Australian racing’s successful partnerships draws to a classy exit. After 15 starts, nine wins, four seconds, $3,426,050 in prizemoney,...
Cox Plate 2024 on the radar for Western Empire
Fresh from one of the most satisfying days he’s experienced on a race track, trainer Grant Williams has outlined ambitious plans for outstanding Northam Stakes winner, Western Empire. The short term has been locked away with the Belmont Sprint (1400m), Hyperion Stakes (1600m) and Strickland Stakes (2000m) a trio of Group...
Positive Derby switch for G1 winner Coco Sun
Fresh from her victory in the South Australian Derby, Coco Sun is being set the challenge of conquering the Queensland Derby instead of reverting back to her own gender in the sunshine state’s version of the Oaks. Coco Sun dominated the Group 1 2500-metre feature in Adelaide last Saturday being the first...