Maher Star Jimmysstar Favored in Kingsford Smith Cup

All eyes will be on Ciaron Maher's stable star Jimmysstar (NZ) when he goes out a AU$3.50 favorite for the May 30 Kingsford Smith Cup (G1) over 1,300 meters (about 6 1/2 furlongs) at Eagle Farm Racecourse. Jimmysstar completed a group 1 double during an autumn campaign last year in the Oakleigh Plate (G1) at Caulfield Racecourse and All Aged Stakes (G1) at Randwick Racecourse. He returned in the spring, earning AU$4 million for victories in the Russell Balding Stakes and C.F. Orr Stakes (G1) but has only placed once in four starts this campaign. "We expect him to bounce back over 1,300 meters at Eagle Farm," assistant trainer Jack Turnbull said May 25. "He just needs a bit of time to wind up. Everyone's been going on like he's been getting beaten 3, 4, 5 lengths, but his runs over 1,200 meters have been credible and he just wants a little bit further." Jimmysstar was purchased by Ozzie Kheir and John O'Neill on behalf of a large syndicate after winning his first two starts at Wanganui and Hastings. He was bred in partnership by Little Avondale Stud which stands his sire Per Incanto. Ballarat trainer Mitch Freedman has set the bar high for his talented mare Skybird (AUS) in the Kingsford Smith. Skybird had won the 2023 Moonee Valley Fillies Classic (G2) over a mile, but since then has been confined to races up to 1,200 meters (about 6 furlongs), including a victory in the 2025 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes (G1). "She's got to step up to 1,300 meters this weekend and that's a little query, but once you get to this grade there's not races on for them every week. She's in great shape, the rain is coming, and hopefully the sting is out of the ground on Saturday." Filly Takes on Queensland Derby Solid Gold (NZ) will try to become the sixth straight New Zealand-bred winner of the AU$1 million Queensland Derby (G1) Saturday, a trail of success in the last Australian derby of the season which—for the later-blooming Kiwi 3-year-old—contrasts a barren record in the first, spring's Victoria Derby (G1). But on the flipside, Solid Gold, trained by Roger James and Robert Wellwood, will attempt to become the first filly in 16 years to take the Eagle Farm classic. While six females have won in the past 39 editions of the race, the last to do so was 2010 winner Dariana, trained by the master Bart Cummings. While it's been 16 years since a female Queensland Derby winner, James isn't concerned by history. "I've won three New Zealand Derbies with fillies," he said, referencing Orchestral in 2024, Silent Achiever in 2012, and Tidal Light in 1986. "And when you think it's this stage of the season and they're still getting 2 kilos off the colts, that's a real advantage." James also feels he has country of origin on his side, as the Kiwi-breds' recent record in late derbies shows. Australian-breds have won nine of the past 10 editions of the only pre-Christmas Derby—the Victoria Derby. But later in the season the tide turns the way of many, perhaps slower-maturing New Zealanders. Kiwi-breds have won eight of the past 16 Australian Derbies, in early April. Now Solid Gold will seek to make it six in a row in the last Derby of the season at Eagle Farm, for which she's around the AU$6.50 mark. While the lone female in the race, Solid Gold has company on the nationality front, and at the top of betting. The other two Kiwi-breds in the field are Chris Waller's pair Monopolistic (NZ), the AU$5 favorite, and Kilman (NZ) at AU$10.