Winter warrior Jimmy The Bear delivers again in Winter Championship Final at Flemington
The Patrick and Michelle Payne -trained winter warrior defied a wide barrier and big weight to win the feature in a blanket finish from Munhamek and Forgot You.
Reigning Winter Championship winner Munhamek motored into contention late as a $41 outsider.
Favourite Oh Too Good travelled outside the leader Magnaspin and looked a winner in the straight but ultimately felt the early race pressure.
Jimmy The Bear has won three of his past five starts and been runner-up twice in brilliant campaign.
'Patrick focuses on this time of year and he's just an old marvel,' Michelle Payne said.
'Big thanks to Mike Hirst (owner breeder Jimmy The Bear and former Racing Victoria chairman) and his support of our stable and family for many, many years.
'He's (Jimmy The Bear) is just an old marvel, his win last start put the writing on the wall … brilliant again today.
'(Jockey) Billy (Egan) did the best from the barrier, caught a bit wide but a nice resting run from where he was.
'He was looking a good chance all the way down the straight but he had to fight for it, as Jimmy does, he doesn't know how to run a bad race and he fought it out well.'
JIMMY THE BEAR ðŸ�»ðŸ'°
The Winter Championship Final goes to Patrick and Michelle Payne's warhorse! Forgot You was a mighty run for third at $61 for Team Busuttin/Young in honour of Peta Tait ðŸ'– @TheBeeegan @mj_payne pic.twitter.com/dmu3cIP7sX
â€' 7HorseRacing ðŸ�Ž (@7horseracing) July 5, 2025
Jimmy The Bear completed a double for the Payne partnership.
'I'm sure Patrick is sitting at home with his arms crossed, very, very happy,' Payne said.
Egan reunited with Jimmy The Bear on Saturday for the first time this campaign and got the result.
Rising star apprentice jockey Tom Prebble had partnered the horse the past four starts but could not finish the job on Saturday due to an untimely suspension.
Egan paid tribute to Prebble after the race.
'Tom Prebble is here on-course, shows he's in the game for all the right reasons,' Egan said.
'He's a good kid, this is one of his favourite horses, so good to see him here.
'I admire Tom in a lot of ways, I wish I could've done what he did when I was his age and had his discipline and his good attitude.'
Egan enjoyed the win on Jimmy The Bear.
'It's a bit like riding a Group (1) winner then, because how much every in the stable loves this horse.'
Egan summed up the situation perfectly on Jimmy The Bear, wide and midfield with a bit of cover.
In doing so, Egan had Oh Too Good in his sights the whole way.
'I was three wide but still probably one off with two inside me there, trying to save as much ground as I could,' Egan said.
'With his big weight, Patrick made a good point, we don't want to be giving (Oh Too Good) too big of a head start, he really wore them down … it was a very tough win.'
Jockey Ben Allen, who rode Oh Too Good, lamented the eventual race shape.
Allen had to use up Oh Too Good early to settle on speed and paid the price late.
'The way I had to ride her I don't think is ideal for her,' Allen said.
'She needs a bit of cover … a bit of a strong head on breeze and she's still learning, so was a bit keen.
'She just felt the pinch late, I still reckon she ran well but she needs circumstances to go her way.'
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