Jimando will face one of racing’s biggest challenges after he scored an impressive win in the listed Exford Plate (1400m) at Flemington on Saturday.
A stakes winner early last season as a spring two-year-old, Jimando showed good improvement from a first up win in Adelaide with his latest big race success.
The son of Commands will now lock horns with Sydney’s champion three-year-old, Gai Waterhouse’s unbeaten sensation Pierro with McEvoy keen to work out the main mission for Jimando this spring.
“It was a really good win,” a delighted McEvoy said.
“I saw Matty (Neilson) just before the turn trying to keep his mind on the job, he’s a bit of a loafer and he’s a horse who I think will get out over a lot further.”
“But I loved the way he finished it off second-up at the 1400 metres. He missed a trial coming in to this so it was a really strong performance.”
“He’ll go to the Bill Stutt (Stakes). That will tell us if we go towards the Derby or if he’s good enough for the (Caulfield) Guineas.”
“Right through his mother’s side, his pedigree is littered with staying blood, so I expect him to get better with every start.”
“I think he’s good enough and if he keeps making the progress he’s making he’ll be thereabouts,” McEvoy added.
A drifter with bookies to start at $12, Jimando and regular rider Matthew Neilson cruised to the line three parts of a length clear of race favourite Awesome Bro ($4.80), while Forget ($9) was another long neck back in third place.
Jimando is turning out a great money spinner for connections following his purchase by McEvoy for just $50,000 from the Evergreen Stud Farm draft at last year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
As it stands he boasts the record of three wins and a third placing from just six lifetime starts and earnings of $213,800.
One of four winners for the 100 per cent winner producer Finko, Jimando is one of 48 individual stakes winners for regally bred Danehill sire Commands.
Finko, a winner over 2600 metres in France, is from the Group One winning Blushing Groom mare Rosefinch – a daughter in turn of the former champion European filly Oh So Sharp.
Winner: Jimando
Breeding: Commands-Finko (Caerleon)
Race: VRC Exford Plate LR (1400m)
Sold for: $50,000
Sale: 2011 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale
Vendor: Evergreen Stud Farm (As Agent)
Buyer: Tony McEvoy
Earnings: $213,800
Owner(s): P & Mrs R Donovan, S George, FJ Phillips and Tanunda Boys Are Happy Synd (Mgr: J Ferrett)
Trainer: Tony McEvoy (Angaston)
