SLIPPIN' JIMMY TOO GOOD AGAIN

By Graham Potter | Friday, August 2, 2024

The David Vandyke trained Slippin’ Jimmy made it back-to-back wins, and landed the fourth win from his last five starts, when he took out a BM74 Showcase Handicap over 1000m at Coffs Harbour on August 2.

The four-year-old chestnut gelding has been quietly racking up an eye-catching formline which now boasts five wins and two runner-up finishes from only nine starts.

The trip south from his Sunshine Coast base has proved fruitful for the son of Pariah with two young apprentices playing their part in these latest successes.

Slippin’ Jimmy’s win at Grafton, where he started at $1.85, came under a good ride by apprentice Jace McMurray and it was apprentice Molly Fitzgerald who took over the reins for the Coff’s Harbour assignment, where he started at $1.95 ... with the same good effect.

Fitzgerald had Slippin’ Jimmy involved right from the start, racing in the middle of a three-horse speed battle for the early lead.

The duo were then a clear second, one wide and just over a length back, turning for home where the immediate task became focussed on running down the leader Haurika Gulf, a $21 outsider, who was putting in a determined effort out front.

That was a gradual process at first but, coming through the 200m mark, Slippin’ Jimmy had taken the measure of Haurika Gulf and, with no dangers emerging from behind, Fitzgerald was able to ride Slippin’ Jimmy out comfortably to the line to win with something in hand to continue the gelding’s very positive form progression.