WHETHER it’s due to his quirky name or his reliability Jimmy The Bear has built up a cult following during off season racing.
Once again he will be looking to put his name back into the winter spotlight when he contests the VRC-CRV Winter Championship (1600m) at Flemington.
Jimmy The Bear is out to defend his title in the race as he won last year carrying 59kg. He also finished an unlucky fifth in 2023.
On Saturday, Jimmy The Bear will have to carry 60kg. In recent years in the Winter Championship, Munhamek shouldered 60.5kg to win the race two years ago and in 2015 Amovatio carried 60kg to prove it can be done.
Jimmy The Bear has earnt his popularity among racegoers by having won 13 races from his 47 starts. He has had seven starts over 1600m at Flemington for two wins, a second and a third.
Again, he will be ridden by Billy Egan who has ridden him 17 times for five wins including last year’s victory in the corresponding race.
Jimmy The Bear is going into the race off a rare disappointing effort when he finished fifth in the David Bourke Handicap (1600m) at Flemington last start when he did not look like a winning chance at any stage.
His trainer Patrick Payne suggested the pattern of the day played against Jimmy The Bear as it favoured on pacers.
He told Racenet that he thought it was a fair run, summarising it by saying it wasn’t disappointing but nor was it exciting.
Jimmy The Bear is a $6.50 chance with Unibet.
Payne is always to the fore at this time of the year and he takes a powerful squad to Flemington on Saturday.
His most exciting runner is Jimmy The Bear’s younger half-brother Clevor Trever who has had six starts for four wins and two seconds with his wins coming at his last four runs and he will contest the Silver Bowl Series Final (1600m).
Clevor Trever scraped in at his last start at Sandown on a Heavy track which Payne believes may not have suited him.
He said Clevor Trever will be better suited by the soft track at Flemington and is improving with racing. He is $3.40 favourite with Unibet.
He will also carry top-weight of 60kg and be ridden by Billy Egan
Payne’s other chances for the day include Bold Soul in the Banjo Patterson Series Final who is $8 and Falset Star in the A.R. Creswick Stakes (1200m, 3yo) who is $9 with Unibet.
Payne is attempting to win his fourth Taj Rossi Series final (1600m, 2yo) with Achy Breaky Heart who is $18 with Unibet. He has won it with Cherry Tortoni (2020), Quang Tri (2022) and Buccleuch last year.
