Jimmysstar sent for spell, Stradbroke Handicap bid over

Jimmysstar’s Queensland winter campaign has come to an early end, with connections ruling the top sprinter out of next week’s Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap and instead sending him for a spell ahead of a spring return.

The decision follows the Ciaron Maher-trained gelding’s narrow defeat as favourite in Saturday’s Group 1 Kingsford Smith Cup at Eagle Farm, with connections opting to focus on a fresh preparation rather than press on to Queensland’s $3 million signature race.

Jimmysstar had been allotted the 58.5kg topweight for the Stradbroke and was expected to be one of the major contenders despite being winless from five starts this campaign, having produced strong performances at Group 1 level in both Sydney and Brisbane.

Part-owner Ozzie Kheir told SEN’s Giddy Up that the gelding would now be prepared for a spring return, with the Group 1 Memsie Stakes at Caulfield in late August shaping as his likely first-up assignment.

Longer-term options could include races such as the Makybe Diva Stakes, King Charles III Stakes and potentially another tilt at The Everest after Jimmysstar’s luckless third placing in last year’s edition of the world’s richest turf race.