logo
2025 The Everest: Ciaron Maher-trained, Ozzie Kheir-owned Jimmysstar confirmed for TAB slot

2025 The Everest: Ciaron Maher-trained, Ozzie Kheir-owned Jimmysstar confirmed for TAB slot

News.com.au4 days ago
Ciaron Maher will get the chance to win The Everest in consecutive years – and so too will slot holder TAB – after freakish Group 1 winner Jimmysstar became the fourth horse signed up for the $20m race in 2025.
Jimmysstar, a two-time Group 1 winner last seen storming to victory in the Group 1 All Aged Stakes (1400m) at Randwick in April, becomes the fourth horse to score a slot for The Everest in October.
The horse they all have to beat, Hong Kong superstar Ka Ring Rising, is confirmed for a slot and is the hot $1.80 favourite, while Private Harry ($6) and Briasa ($8) also have slots.
Champion trainer Maher won the 2024 The Everest with Bella Nipotina and will get the chance to go back to back after Jimmysstar scored the TAB slot.
Earlier in his career, Jimmysstar could be an enigmatic galloper and several times went down as raging favourite, including as a $1.26 chance at Flemington and also when starting at $1.75 at Eagle Farm.
But the penny has well and truly dropped and he is now widely considered one of the most explosive sprinters in the country.
He came from near last to blow away his opposition in this year's Group 1 Oakleigh Plate at Caulfield and also powered over the top of his rivals in the All Aged.
JIMMYSSTAR FROM THE CLOUDS! 🚀
He wins his first Group 1 for @cmaherracing 🥰 @Brown_ethan8 pic.twitter.com/algd0AOjsw
â€' Racing.com (@Racing) February 22, 2025

Jimmysstar races in the colours of prominent owner Ozzie Kheir who, along with his close friend Brae Sokolski, tasted Everest success when Yes Yes Yes won for Chris Waller in 2019.
Kheir wasn't on track that day but said nothing would keep him away from Randwick when Jimmysstar contested The Everest later this year.
'We were in discussions with TAB for several weeks on Jimmysstar and they were fantastic to deal with and have come to the party with the ownership group's expectations,' Kheir said.
@cmaherracing and @Brown_ethan8! 🙌 @aus_turf_club pic.twitter.com/Obg9FvV2KC
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 19, 2025
'We are very excited to have one of our favourite horses heading towards The Everest which would not have been in our thought processes only nine months ago.
'Jimmy has been a quirky horse from the outset, which has cost him winning in the past, but now he has turned into a racehorse mentally and from his recent videos of him he looks unreal
'He has so much ability.
'He is not a big horse but he is all muscle.'
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Australia were in trouble. Then Tim David blasted a record-breaking century
Australia were in trouble. Then Tim David blasted a record-breaking century

The Age

time9 minutes ago

  • The Age

Australia were in trouble. Then Tim David blasted a record-breaking century

Tim David has smashed the fastest international century by an Australian in history, bringing up triple figures from just 37 balls in a jaw-dropping T20 run chase that sealed a dominant series victory over the West Indies. Set 215 for victory, Australia overcame a shaky start at 3-61 from 5.5 overs following the early dismissals of Glenn Maxwell (20 off seven), Josh Inglis (15 off six) and Mitch Marsh (22 off 19), before David launched one of the most destructive innings ever seen in national colours. David had a relatively modest start to his innings, reaching eight off five balls, before exploding from there to reach a half century in 16 balls, one delivery faster than 17-ball efforts from Marcus Stoinis (against Sri Lanka in 2022) and Travis Head (against Scotland in 2024). Yuvraj Singh's 12-ball half century is the fastest in a T20 international by a player from a major nation. David's blistering knock included four consecutive sixes off left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie in a 10th over that went for 28 runs. Far from slogging recklessly, David was so in control that he turned down singles to keep the strike from Mitch Owen at the other end. Owen, who hit a 39-ball hundred in this year's BBL final for the Hobart Hurricanes, played second fiddle as David punished a poor West Indian attack. After racing to 82 off 26 balls, David briefly rotated the strike before finishing with a flourish, hitting a boundary to fine leg to finish unbeaten on 102 from 37 balls. David hit 11 sixes, with only Aaron Finch (14) clubbing more during his 156 off 63 balls against England in 2013. Australia chased down the target with 23 balls to spare, with David and Owen (36 not out off 16) combining for a 128-run stand – the highest fifth-wicket partnership in Australian T20I history.

Australia were in trouble. Then Tim David blasted a record-breaking century
Australia were in trouble. Then Tim David blasted a record-breaking century

Sydney Morning Herald

time9 minutes ago

  • Sydney Morning Herald

Australia were in trouble. Then Tim David blasted a record-breaking century

Tim David has smashed the fastest international century by an Australian in history, bringing up triple figures from just 37 balls in a jaw-dropping T20 run chase that sealed a dominant series victory over the West Indies. Set 215 for victory, Australia overcame a shaky start at 3-61 from 5.5 overs following the early dismissals of Glenn Maxwell (20 off seven), Josh Inglis (15 off six) and Mitch Marsh (22 off 19), before David launched one of the most destructive innings ever seen in national colours. David had a relatively modest start to his innings, reaching eight off five balls, before exploding from there to reach a half century in 16 balls, one delivery faster than 17-ball efforts from Marcus Stoinis (against Sri Lanka in 2022) and Travis Head (against Scotland in 2024). Yuvraj Singh's 12-ball half century is the fastest in a T20 international by a player from a major nation. David's blistering knock included four consecutive sixes off left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie in a 10th over that went for 28 runs. Far from slogging recklessly, David was so in control that he turned down singles to keep the strike from Mitch Owen at the other end. Owen, who hit a 39-ball hundred in this year's BBL final for the Hobart Hurricanes, played second fiddle as David punished a poor West Indian attack. After racing to 82 off 26 balls, David briefly rotated the strike before finishing with a flourish, hitting a boundary to fine leg to finish unbeaten on 102 from 37 balls. David hit 11 sixes, with only Aaron Finch (14) clubbing more during his 156 off 63 balls against England in 2013. Australia chased down the target with 23 balls to spare, with David and Owen (36 not out off 16) combining for a 128-run stand – the highest fifth-wicket partnership in Australian T20I history.

Allen Griechen represents Australia in netball but will soon age out of local team
Allen Griechen represents Australia in netball but will soon age out of local team

ABC News

time9 minutes ago

  • ABC News

Allen Griechen represents Australia in netball but will soon age out of local team

At 193 centimetres tall and aged just 14, Allen Griechen is imposing his sizeable presence as one of Australia's best junior male netballers. He represented both WA and Australia this year, including three games against New Zealand in the Pacific Horizon Cup for boys 17 and under. Australia won all three games, solidifying its series victory in the final match with a 48-41 win. Head coach Lorraine Ward said Griechen helped the Aussies secure success. "We were a draw at three-quarter time, and we put him on and he got three blocks straight away." Ms Ward said it was both Allen's height and heart that got him selected for the Australian team. "No-one could believe he was only 14 years old." Back home in Geraldton, 450 kilometres north of Perth, Griechen has only a few games to go before he ages out of the local competition, which does not allow males over the age of 14. He will be able to continue to play in Perth if his mum Robyn is willing to do the 900km round trip once a week. Robyn is already accustomed to the drive after doing it in the lead-up to Allen playing the nationals. "Perth are really receptive and they love him," she said. "As long as I'm prepared to drive him, he'll still be able to go to [the] state [competition]." Griechen said it was watching his older sisters play netball that inspired him to begin playing the sport when he was just five years old. "I just thought, 'That's what I want to do,'" he said. "My parents support everything I do and everything I want to be." Griechen said it was unusual for a boy to play competitive netball in the regional town of Geraldton, where there were only two other male players, both of whom were younger. "I feel like I'm paving the way for them, showing them that they can play as high, and achieve their goals," he said. Despite the enthusiastic support of his family and the netball community, the young player said there was a "definite" stigma in the wider community about boys playing in the female-dominated sport. However, he said it usually did not take long to get people on side. "There's quite a bit of negativity but I feel as if they don't really understand it, they haven't really been introduced to it," he said. "I just don't let it get to me. I feel I'm good enough at my sport. "I think once they hear or see how I play, I feel like they really understand what my skill level is." Locally, Griechen plays for Kazuals reserves team in the women's competition. His coach, Kelsie Crowe, described him as an "absolute ball hunter" and asset to the team. Ms Crowe said his gender was of little importance to her or the club. "I just coach him the same as the girls and he just takes everything on board so well," she said. Ms Crowe is hopeful there will be pathways for Griechen to continue playing netball into the future. She said in her view, there was no need for boys to be excluded from the sport. "There are females playing netball that are his height, and we get on with it," she said. "We have so much talent [in boys] and I would hate to lose it to another sport." Last month, top governing body World Netball endorsed the introduction of the first ever men's netball world cup as early as 2028, as the men's game was "gaining momentum rapidly". Australian Men's and Mixed Netball Association president Andrew Simons described the announcement as "the single biggest step in men's netball history". It follows a memorandum of understanding between the West Coast Men's & Mixed Netball Association and Netball WA to develop and strengthen pathways for boys in competitive netball in WA. However, those living in the country face additional challenges to playing and progressing. "With Allen, it's a little more difficult being a regional athlete," Ms Ward explained. "We are going to continue his development by sending him some programs, hopefully bringing him down to Perth, so he can get into the WANL [WA Netball League] environment." Griechen said he hoped more boys and men would play at a local level in coming years, and open up more possibilities for males in netball. "That would be perfect, that's exactly what I'm going for," he said. "To make sure other boys can get the same experiences and even more than I did." He hopes negative attitudes about males in netball will recede as more boys and men enter the sport. "More exposure would definitely bring it out, and introduce it to a lot of people," he said. "Definitely give it a go. Try your best."

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store