Jimmysstar will run in The Everest at Royal Randwick on Saturday 17 October, with owner Ozzie Kheir confirming the Ciaron Maher-trained sprinter’s start and Nash Rawiller booked to ride.
Kheir confirmed the news to SENTrack and RSN’s Gareth Hall, SEN reported on Tuesday 6 October. The four-time Group 1 winner will take on Hong Kong champion Ka Ying Rising and Tempted in the $20 million sprint, and Rawiller will ride him for the first time.
“Jimmysstar will take his place in the 2026 Everest and will have Nash Rawiller aboard,” Kheir said.
Kheir said contracts with the slot holder were being finalised and were expected to be executed within the next 24 hours.
“Although we are racing against two standouts and many other worthy participants, we feel Jimmy having been a last-start Group 1 winner needs to be present in the richest sprint in Australia,” he said.
Which slot?
Kheir did not name the slot holder. SEN reported that Jimmysstar appears likely to run in the TAB’s slot, but that is still to be confirmed. The TAB ran him in its slot last year, as racing.com reported in July 2025, and he finished third behind Ka Ying Rising and Tempted.
Racing.com journalist Trent Masenhelder posted on X that “the deal is currently being finalised and will be announced imminently”. He said Rawiller will ride, with regular jockey Ethan Brown riding Zahrann in the Caulfield Cup on the same day.
From long shot to Everest runner
Jimmysstar’s Everest chances looked slim in late September. “I’ve remained consistent in the fact that Jimmy needs to put his hand up to go to the Everest and we’ll know,” Kheir told SENTrack on September 23, adding that a start was “probably more unlikely than likely at this stage unless he does something remarkable”.
He did just that. Wearing blinkers for the first time, Jimmysstar came from last under Ethan Brown to win the Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on Sunday 27 September, beating Extragalactic by three-quarters of a length with Charm Stone third, as TSB reported from Caulfield. It was his fourth Group 1 win and 12th from 30 starts, racing.com reported.
“The Everest, probably, certainly heading that way on the big track at Randwick,” Maher said after the win.
What happens next
Final declarations for The Everest (1200m) close at 10am on Tuesday 13 October. Ka Ying Rising was beaten a long head by Ninja in his Randwick trial on Tuesday 6 October. Our Everest field guide has where every slot stands.
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More News
- Racing: Everest Field 2026 – Confirmed Runners and Who Fills the Rest
- Racing: Jimmysstar Wins Manikato Stakes From Last to First
- Racing: Ka Ying Rising Beaten a Long Head by Ninja in Everest Trial
- Racing: Savvy Hallie Gets Everest Start in Mulberry Racing’s Slot
- Racing: Tempted Wins Premiere Stakes, Eyes Ka Ying Rising Rematch in Everest
