Three Wide, No Cover: Jimmysstar's Brave Everest Third
Courage Under Fire At Randwick
Drawing barrier 11 threatened to derail Jimmysstar's challenge in the Gr.1 The TAB Everest. He was forced three wide without cover, sitting outside Ka Ying Rising throughout. Jimmysstar refused to yield, finishing behind Hong Kong's world number one with the Godolphin-owned Tempted finishing in second place.
"I think when the barrier came out for The Everest, everyone was a little bit deflated because then he was going to have to run against his pattern of racing," said owner and breeder Sam Williams.
"But to do what he did, to run it quick from the barrier, no cover, sit outside just off the tail of Ka Ying Rising, it was a courageous run. From the stewards' report, we gather that he got galloped on at the start. So, his run has been huge."
"Jimmysstar’s Everest sectionals show he had the fastest first 200. And nothing ran a faster 200 after Jimmysstar all day, which was unbelievable," Williams added. His next target is in Sydney on November 1. Trained by Ciaron Maher, Jimmysstar has won nine of 18 starts, banking US$2.13 million.
Dual Group One Winner's Breeding
Bred by Pete and Chrissy Algie in partnership with Little Avondale, Jimmysstar is out of Listed winner Anniesstar, a Zed mare who died in 2023. His sister Charm's Star, also by Per Incanto, won at the Group Three level and was twice Group One placed over staying distances. Williams and his wife Dame Catriona retained ownership shares alongside the Algies. Earlier in 2025, Jimmysstar took the Group One Oakleigh Plate at Caulfield and the All Aged Stakes in Sydney, defeating Joliestar.
The NZ$700 Mare Who Changed Everything
Per Incanto arrived at Little Avondale from Shadwell in 2011, recommended by racing manager Angus Gold. The Group Three winning son of Street Cry started at stud for just NZ$4,000, serving predominantly Book Two and Three mares.
"I think I've said it on numerous occasions, Per Incanto has done it the hard way. He's done it with second-tier Book Two mares coming to him at a service fee of NZ$4,000," Williams reflected. "He's now standing at NZ$60,000, and when you put that in the scheme of some of the top stallions in Australia, America, and England, that’s really great value. He is doing a wonderful job, and he's done it the hard way."
"Everyone is taking note, whether it be Roch 'N' Horse, Belluci Babe, Lost And Running, Little Brose, he's produced some very top-line horses," Williams said.
His broodmare sire statistics prove exceptional. From 99 runners, 53 have won, producing seven stakes’ winners from nine stakes horses and banking US$25.97 million. Ka Ying Rising, who won the Gr.1 The Everest, is out of Per Incanto mare Missy Moo, who was sold as a retired racehorse to be a broodmare.
"Ka Ying Rising's mother was sold for NZ$700 because it was off one of those early matings when he was getting Book Two, Book Three mares. She was not a Group winner. She won four races. She is one more generation away from black type, and she was a NZ$700 mare leaving the world champion," Williams explained. "So, it doesn't take a checkbook from one of these big powerhouses. Per Incanto, his statistics as a broodmare sire are seriously phenomenal."
With eight Group One winners and 33 stakes winners overall, Per Incanto has proven that elite results need not require elite investment. The Group One spectacle illustrated Street Cry's dominance, with first and third both carrying his blood through Per Incanto, whilst runner-up Tempted is by Street Boss.
"That was the other thing, I don't know if you picked up on it, but Ka Ying Rising out of a Per Incanto mare, who is by Street Cry; Tempted by Street Boss, who's by Street Cry; and obviously Jimmysstar by Per Incanto by Street Cry," Williams observed. "So, Street Cry, the American horse. I’ve loved the Street Cry blood right from the word go, and it’s having a significant impact on Australian racing. Last year, Street Boss, Per Incanto, and Pride of Dubai all finished inside the top 15 on the sires list."
Quality Over Quantity Philosophy
At 21, Per Incanto's book has been deliberately restricted to 90 mares for 2025, prioritizing longevity over commercial gain. "My father, when he had Oncidium and he was the leading sire in Australasia, the full book for him was 40 mares. Sir Tristram, who stood at Cambridge Stud here in New Zealand was the first sire ever to serve 100 mares anywhere in the world." Williams said.
"So, to serve 90 mares, I've never been a believer in big books, but I'm trying to look after him. He doesn't need the numbers to prove it on the track. Look at his sire, like Extreme Choice, he doesn't get many numbers, but look at his progeny. They're phenomenal. And people pay top dollar for them on the track."
"His yearlings this year, off a NZ$60,000 service fee, averaged NZ$207,000 across the big five sales and a recent average of A$425,000 at Sydney Easter with a high of A$650,000," Williams said. "Sale results only come by success on the track, and he's had Group One winners Jimmysstar and Gringotts and a quartet of Group Two winners."
Kiwis Punch Above Their Weight
Three New Zealand-bred runners contested the Gr.1 The TAB Everest, claiming two of the first three placings.
"We might only supply five per cent of the population of the Australian racehorse population, but we're winning well over 20 per cent of the group races. It's just phenomenal. It's a magnificent statistic," Williams said. "Ka Ying Rising might be racing from Hong Kong, but he was bred not far from here. There were three New Zealand-bred horses in The Everest, the biggest sprint race on turf in the world, and the Kiwis made up 25 per cent of that race. I think that's extraordinary."
"Karaka this year, it's the 100th year of selling yearlings. And Little Avondale, this will be our 86th year," Williams said. "I think a lot of New Zealanders are making a really big stand and trying to support New Zealand and sell their best horses there this year.”
Williams has six entries for the upcoming New Zealand Ready to Run Sale at Karaka, including three Per Incanto geldings. He also has a Profondo filly out of a Per Incanto mare cataloged for the Magic Millions yearling sale.
Per Incanto has been joined on the Little Avondale roster by his Gr.1 Blue Diamond Stakes winning son Little Brose, standing at US$8,800 (NZ$15,000). "It's massive for New Zealand to have a Blue Diamond winner standing here and at that service fee," Williams said.
Williams compared the atmosphere of the A$20 million spectacle to Winx's final Queen Elizabeth Stakes. "An incredible day, and it was such a neat result. But just to be part of it was, honestly, it was a real honor, a privilege to be part of the TAB and their slot with Jimmy," he said.
"The ATC has done an incredible job of getting the crowd there. Of the 50,000 people, 30,000 were 26 years of age and younger. Now that is extraordinary marketing," he said. "Well, it's only going to keep getting bigger and bigger. There's nothing to stop The Everest now from growing, especially since Hong Kong has figured out that they can compete, and I'm sure the Japanese won't be far behind."
From a NZ$4,000 stallion serving second-tier mares to an elite sire commanding NZ$60,000 with a restricted book, Per Incanto's journey epitomizes patience rewarded. With Jimmysstar heading to Randwick again and a new generation led by Little Brose entering stud duties, the Little Avondale success story continues to evolve on racing's biggest stages.