Jimmy Recard comes out on top after tough battle in Group 3 Vain Stakes at Caulfield

News.com.au

4 days ago

'J.R., Jimmy Recard. Raise your glass for the king of the bar.'
Art again proved prophetic after Jimmy Recard 's latest win in Saturday's Group 3 Vain Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield.
Jimmy Recard, named after a 2008 song by Perth hip hop artist Drapht, gave his large band of owners a third opportunity to celebrate a win when he denied Tycoon Star in a physical finish to the Vain Stakes.
Tycoon Star looked set to post a first-up win when he got into the clear early in the straight but laid in over the last 200m while Jamie Melham drove Jimmy Recard along the inside section of the track.
Tycoon Star bumped Jimmy Recard but the Ciaron Maher -trained colt had a half-head to spare on the line, posting his third win in four starts.
'I just think he's improving every time he runs,' Maher said of the Bennett Racing-syndicated three-year-old.
'We had notions of taking him for a stakes race in Adelaide but we thought we'd reset for the spring.
'He's certainly started the spring the right way.'
JIMMY RECARD!
What a battle down the straight in the Vain Stakes! The colts were all over the place but its Jimmy who prevailed â­� @jamieleemelham @cmaherracing @RacingBennett pic.twitter.com/DPHJaKyD6C
â€' 7HorseRacing ðŸ�Ž (@7horseracing) August 16, 2025
Maher combined with Bennett Racing to race Southport Tycoon, who won two Group 1 races before heading to stand at Widden Stud.
Maher hoped Jimmy Recard could improve sufficiently to follow Southport Tycoon to stud.
'I was at the stallion parades for Southport Tycoon yesterday when Widden were introducing him. Hopefully this can be the next one,' Maher said.
'He's certainly a very well-bred colt and he's a great type.
'He's got a bright future.'
Tycoon Star's jockey Mark Zahra said the Lindsay Park-trained colt had his opportunity to win at his first start since the Group 1 Golden Slipper.
'He was going to win but he was first-up and the winner's come along the fence where nothing has come all day,' Zahra said.
'He was strong enough to the line but I think he had his chance, he's still green though.'
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'Angry' mare makes trainers happy with Regal Roller success
Pop Award completed her reformation from problem child to black-type performer when she prevailed in Saturday's Listed Regal Roller Stakes at Caulfield.
Co-trainer Lyn Tolson described Pop Award as 'an angry horse' when she first arrived at the stable she shares with daughter Leonie Proctor after proving too much of a handful for a couple of horse breakers.
'She could strike at you and go at you better than any stallion,' Tolson said of Pop Award earlier in the week.
POP AWARD ðŸ'¥
Five on the trot, from maiden grade to a Group 3! What a story for the Tolson/Proctor/Cartwright clan ðŸ'– pic.twitter.com/iIDghMLyme
â€' 7HorseRacing ðŸ�Ž (@7horseracing) August 16, 2025
However, Pop Award had proven herself to punters with four straight wins before she stepped up Listed level for the first time in the Regal Roller Stakes.
Last year's winner Arkansaw Kid ($3.10 fav) looked set to sweep past Pop Award ($5) halfway down the straight but the mare's fitness advantage and 6kg weight pull helped her hold a length on her rival on the line.
Tolson said winning the Regal Roller Stakes was a great birthday present for her grandson, Proctor's son Matthew Cartwright.
'We rolled the dice today and we thought, 'oh god, are we going a little bit too high?' as this is only her seventh run,' she said.
'We thought that it was only going to get harder and if we throw her in the deep end now, we could always come back (in class) if we have to.
'She definitely stood up.'
The Grahame Begg-trained Royal Insignia ($7.50) also made an encouraging start to his spring campaign with his solid third with jockey Jordan Childs in the saddle.