Racing
Jimmysstar wins the Russell Balding Stakes: Post Race Trainer and Jockey Quotes
Trainer and jockey quotes after Jimmysstar claims the Russell Balding Stakes at Randwick on Saturday.
Race Result:1st: Jimmysstar (C Maher/E Brown) - $2.50F2nd: Lady Shenandoah (C Waller/J McDonald) - $6.50
3rd: Mazu (J Pride/R King) - $26
Winning Time: 1:16.57 Last 600m: 35.86
Margins: 2¾L x Long Neck
Winning Trainer: Ciaron Maher (Johann Gerard-Dubord comments)Jimmysstar unleashes his star power to smash them in the Russell Balding Stakes! @cmaherracing @Brown_ethan8 @aus_turf_club pic.twitter.com/J1Rx7Xksdq
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) November 1, 2025
On the win: "It was well deserved obviously. He has been running big races all prep. His run in The Everest was huge. To back it up two weeks later, after such a big run, it was not easy to do. He is such a tough horse. It was a very good ride from Ethan."
"The inside has been a bit off. He was about to stay in the right part of the track without losing momentum. Well deserved for the horse. He keeps getting better. He has raced on soft tracks in the past but not that rain affected. A great thrill to get a big bonus today. A lot of good money in Sydney."
On how he can be ridden: "I think there is a bit of maturing too. Obviously his biggest asset is his turn of foot. We tried to turn that this prep and we found out in The Everest that he is able to do it even doing work early. An extra 100m today with a beautiful ride, it was well deserved."
On the owners: "A great group of owners who have a lot of fun with him. He comes back better every prep and I think he will just keep improving. Plenty more good wins coming up."
On backing up: "He deserves a spell and see how he pulls up. But it is something to discuss. We did that with Bella last year. It is never out of the equation. He's done a great job."
Winning Jockey: Ethan Brown
On the horse: "I love this horse so much. He's a beauty and he's just he's matured and he knows what it's about."
"I know he's older now but Ciaron has just had him here in the best possible order every start. He was entitled to probably feel the pinch off the last run, and Ciaron just guided him through to this race. And he performed like it was his grand final.
On riding him closer: "I spoke to him behind the gates and said, 'you've got to jump better.' He did jump better but he's just a bit sluggish there, and that's just him.
"But the beauty of a good draw, we're able to overcome that and get him into gear. Once we found our spot, he had a beautiful resting run on a good speed and just had to trust his finish.
"That's what I said to the team and everyone was aware of that. That's what he can do and he certainly showed his true colours today."
Check out the latest Singapore News