Jimmysstar eying The Everest after impressive All Aged Stakes win

Jimmysstar’s year just gets better and better. The five year old has now won two Group 1 races in 2025. He won the Oakleigh Plate back in February. The gelding then picked up an even bigger prize this weekend, winning the Group 1 All Aged Stakes at Royal Randwick Racecourse by nearly a full length.

As a result of his strong run, many horse betting sites now have Jimmysstar listed as one of the main contenders with the 2025 The Everest at Randwick in October.

Jimmysstar delivers

Jimmysstar’s win alone isn’t the only reason the betting apps are backing him. It’s how he won.

The pack was incredibly tight around the final turn, with Bjorn Baker’s Belclare and Michael, John & Wayne Hawkes’ Briasa leading the way.

Down the stretch, Jimmysstar brilliantly cut through a space in the pack to get the outside. The gelding then closed a two-and-a-half-length lead to win the race.

Chris Waller’s Joliestar, the runner-up, also pulled off an impressive run down the stretch. The mare was in 9th place at the 400m mark. She ended up finishing 0.7 lengths behind the winner.

Annabel Neasham’s Sunshine In Paris finished third, 1.29 lengths behind Jimmysstar.

Gelding met the challenge

It’s never easy to figure out when a horse is ready to take the step up to Group 1 level, but Ciaron Maher has got it exactly right with Jimmysstar.

The gelding had not raced in any Group 1 races before this season. His first was a disappointing 10th-place finish in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes. Despite that poor run, Maher stuck with Jimmysstar.

The five year old has raced in four races in 2025, all were Group 1 races. He has won two, finished third in one, and fourth in the other.

“It is a real ‘come out’ preparation for Jimmy this time. Four runs, all Group One races,” Maher said about his horse’s strong start to 2025.

Maher sets The Everest target

After speaking about what he saw on Saturday, Maher then turned his eyes to the future and to October’s The Everest at Randwick.

“I was thinking about The Everest after the Oakleigh. Hopefully that (the All Aged Stakes win) cements him his place,” Maher said.

“The other day, he ran home quicker time in the TJ (Smith Stakes) than he did in the Oakleigh Plate and his Oakleigh Plate was blistering.

“He is just a very good horse and I’m sure he will be making his presence felt in The Everest.”

The Everest is still months away, but the betting sites expect to see Jimmysstar there and for him to be one of the competition’s top contenders.

Jimmysstar is currently second on The Everest favourites list, with $7 to win odds. Only Hong Kong galloper Ka Ying Rising has better chances, with $2.60 odds to win.