Australia: Jimmysstar inherits role of favorite for Doomben 10,000 Stakes

The accomplished sprinter Jimmysstar has secured the role of favorite for Saturday’s Group 1 Doomben 10,000 Stakes at Doomben Racecourse in Australia under unlikely circumstances.

Earlier this week, the 4-year-old filly Lady of Camelot was scratched from the $1.08 million Doomben 10,000 after she was apparently stung by a stingray during a beach swim, according to reports in the Australia racing media.

The incident has led to Lady of Camelot’s withdrawal from the Doomben 10,000, and from consideration for races at Royal Ascot in Britain in June. Lady of Camelot is best known for winning the Group 1 Golden Slipper Stakes for Southern Hemisphere 2-year-olds in March 2024.

Jimmysstar, a 6-year-old gelding, was the 2-1 favorite in early betting on Wednesday for the Doomben 10,000, which is run at six furlongs and will have a maximum field of 16.

Jimmysstar is winless in three starts this year, but had an excellent span of races last October and November. He was third by about 1 1/2 lengths in the Group 1, $13.09 million Everest Stakes at Royal Randwick Racecourse last October and won two stakes in November – the $1.96 million Russell Balding Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs at Randwick, and the Group 1 C.F. Orr Stakes at seven furlongs at Caulfield Racecourse two weeks later.

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Jimmysstar was third by slightly less than a length in the Group 1 All Aged Stakes at seven furlongs at Randwick on April 18 in his last start.

A winner of 11 of 26 starts, Jimmysstar starts from post 11 in the Doomben 10,000, which should aid his closing style. He is likely to be chasing the 8-year-old gelding Private Eye, a 14-time winner in 50 starts who was second in the 2022 Everest and third in the 2023 running.

Private Eye, who often races as a stalker, was third by about a half-length in the Group 3 Hall Mark Stakes at six furlongs at Randwick in his lone start this year.

The Doomben 10,000 will be the first start against older horses for the promising Southern Hemisphere 3-year-old Grafterburners, who had a four-race winning streak end with a third-place finish by 1 3/4 lengths in the Group 2 Arrowfield Sprint for 3-year-olds at Randwick on April 11.

Grafterburners, a winner of 6 of 13 starts, will be ridden for the first time in the Doomben 10,000 by Zac Purton, a native of Australia who is the leading rider in Hong Kong.

The Doomben 10,000 has a post time of 2 a.m. Eastern on Saturday or 11 p.m. Pacific on Friday.

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