This Saturday Tony McEvoy’s Victoria Derby failure Jimando will return to racing at Morphettville in the $115,000 Group 3 RN Irwin Stakes (1100m) leading up to their Adelaide Autumn Racing Carnival grand final in next month’s The Goodwood 2013.
The three-year-old Commands colt kicked off their career in October of 2011 with a big win in the Listed Inglis Debutants Stakes (1000m) but has been seen in the winners stall just twice since when winning back-to-back races at Morphettville and then Flemington respectively last spring.
Having displayed plenty of promise in their subsequent runs including a third to superstar Pierro in the Group 2 Bill Stutt Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley, connections stepped Jimando up to Group 1 company during the Melbourne Cup Carnival in the Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500m).
The youngster failed to handle the class or the distance however and finished a distant 34 lengths away last behind the upset winner and this autumn’s The BMW winner Fiveandahalfstar in the Flemington classic.
Jimando, who underwent a throat operation after his disappointing Victoria Derby effort, has spent his time since in the paddock and then in training recovering and maturing for another campaign this season starting with the RN Irwin Stakes 2013 on Saturday.
“Jimando is doing well and the Irwin looks a perfect start off race for him,” McEvoy said.
Angaston-based Jimando is hoping Jimando comes back well and can progress onto a race won 12 months ago by Peter Moody’s champion mare Black Caviar, the $500,000 Group 1 Distinctive Homes Goodwood Handicap (1200m) running on May 11.
“If he runs well (on Saturday), I may look to running him in the Goodwood Handicap,” McEvoy added.
Other notable hopes entered for the Irwin Stakes this weekend meanwhile include last year’s third placegetter Catapulted, the Mick Price-trained Loveyamadly coming off successive Melbourne wins, consistent Ballarat-based mare Platelet and veteran seven-year-old Outlandish Lad.
The 2013 RN Irwin Stakes final field is due for release shortly so stay tuned.
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