One Star Confirmed, Others Emerging

The weekend produced a host of standout performances, highlighted by Jimmysstar confirming his rise toward genuine elite status, Sheza Alibi stamping herself as a Group 1 prospect and a string of others delivering new peaks. From Group 1 strength to eye-catching sectional profiles, there was no shortage of quality and plenty of signals for what lies ahead.

—Daniel O’Sullivan & The Inside Running Team

🚀 Jimmysstar 105.7: A top-class performance to win the G1 CF Orr Stakes, backing up his last start career-peak of 106.8 in the Russell Balding, where he won by 2.7 lengths. Evaporate set a strong tempo in front, which suited Jimmysstar's racing pattern perfectly, allowing him to close powerfully with sustained speed from the 800m mark. His last four runs have all produced the best ratings of his career, showing he's fully realising his potential at age six, developing into a genuine star of the Australian turf.

💥 Joker's Grin 101: Improved on his 100 rating win in The Quokka earlier this year (just three starts ago) with a 101 to take out the G3 Colonel Reeves Stakes at Ascot. He did it the hard way too, going back to last, circling widest, then surging home down the outside. He always looked in control once he balanced up. He appears to have more to offer this preparation, and further new peaks won't surprise.

🌟 Sheeza Alibi 100.5: Exploded to a big new peak of 100.5 with her dominant 5.7 length win in the Sandown Guineas, the highest rated winner of the race in at least the past 10 years and more than 2 lengths above the 96.1 average. The race was run very slowly early, and she ran an electric final 400m that clocked +9.5 lengths above standard, clearly the best of the day and more than 2 lengths faster than the next best. She’s a lightly raced filly who looks an obvious Group 1 prospect heading into the autumn.

💪 Coal Crusher 100: Took out The Hunter for the second time in three years. This 100 rating sits just shy of his 101.3 peak in the race in 2023, when he won, and ahead of the 99.3 he produced when he finished third last year. His three best career figures have all come in this event, which reflects how well Joe Pride has set him to peak each time and how perfectly the 1300m suits him. He is now 5 wins from 11 starts at 1300m, compared to 1 from 6 beyond that trip and 4 wins from 29 starts at shorter distances.

📈 Boston Rocks 99: Made a big leap on his previous best of 93.2, running 99 to win the Listed Village Stakes at Caulfield in his first try at stakes level.

*Ratings are normalised to weight-for-age for each horse.

Angel Capital posted a big new peak 📊 WFA Performance Rating of 103.9 when runner-up in the C.F. Orr Stakes, well clear of his previous best of 101.9 in The Everest. He was a touch unlucky to bump into Jimmysstar in elite form, and the strength of his performance is underscored by the fact that only four of the 32 other G1 WFA winners over 1400m in the past five seasons have rated higher than 103.9.

Three of his four runs for Chris Waller have been new peaks, with his last two clearly his best. It well and truly confirms that Angel Capital is knocking on the door of Group 1 success. All going well, his time will come.

Estadio Mestalla – 15 November 2024, Newcastle (R8)
Ran +1.3 lengths above standard time for the 1300m trip, finishing 2.1 lengths behind Coal Crusher in The Hunter. His closing sectionals, given an above-standard overall time, were outstanding: +9.9 lengths for the final 800m and +7.7 lengths over the last 600m — strong indicators of real talent. Drawn wide in barrier 16, he was still 7.5 lengths off the lead at the 400m, and that position with just an even pace up front cost him a higher rating than the 95.6 figure he achieved.

Royal Toronado – 15 November 2024, Ascot (R4)
Produced a powerful finish, running +12.6 lengths vs standard for his last 600m after being 9.6 lengths off the lead at the 600m in a race that crawled early. He closed strongly to be beaten 2.5 lengths and looks ready to win in Benchmark grade for Grant and Alana Williams. Looks for W Pike to jump back on.

➡ Group 2 Sandown Guineas winner Sheza Alibi (pictured above) will target the Group 1 Australian Guineas in the autumn.
➡ Jimmysstar will target the Group 1 Everest and Group 1 TJ Smith next year
➡ Private Eye has been selected as the slot runner for Ladbrokes in the Supernova race at Pakenham.
➡ Rey Magnerio will head west for the Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes.
➡ Giga Kick will not travel to Perth and will instead spell for an autumn campaign, including the G1 Lightning Stakes
➡ Everest runner-up Tempted has returned to work for Ciaron Maher. She will resume in the Group 3 Eskimo Prince Stakes and then target the Group 1 Surround Stakes on 28 February at Randwick,
➡ Godolphin's three-year-old Green Spaces will spell after his G3 Spring Stakes win at Newcastle and return aimed at autumn features.

Which two horses have won the Group 1 Railway Stakes in Western Australia and subsequently claimed victory in the Group 1 W.S. Cox Plate the following year?

*Answers at the bottom

Friday, 21st November

➡ Launceston | Listed Newmarket Handicap 1200M

Saturday, 22nd November

➡ Kembla Grange | Group 3 THE GONG 1600M
➡ Kembla Grange | Group 3 THE WARRA 1000M
➡ Southside Cranbourne | Listed Cranbourne Cup 1600M
➡ Ascot | Listed A.J. SCAHILL CUP 2100M
➡ Ascot | Listed CARBINE CLUB OF W.A. STAKES 1400M
➡ Ascot | Group 1 RAILWAY STAKES 1600M
➡ Ascot | Group 2 W.A. GUINEAS 1600M

Sunday, 23rd November

➡ Kilmore | Listed bet365 Kilmore Cup 1600M

Better Loosen Up and Northerly are the two horses that achieved this remarkable double.