Wednesday, 8 August 2012: Early Blue Diamond favourite Jimando will make his eagerly awaited return to racing this Saturday when he contests the Dominant Handicap (1010m) at Morphettville.
 | Jimando
Photo by Racing and Sports | |
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After making his impressive debut back in October last year, the now three-year-old somewhat failed to live up to his early hype subsequently finishing a well beaten fourth in the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes.
In what will be his first start at his home track, Leading Adelaide trainer Tony McEvoy is confident the best is still yet to come for the son of Commands.
"He raced a lot better than we all expected to be honest, his pedigree suggested that he would come on a bit later than that," McEvoy said.
"His win on debut was fantastic at Caulfield and then his return run back in the Chairman's Stakes was very competitive.
"The barrier probably cost him running second in the Blue Diamond."
McEvoy then elected to spell the gelding after he finished unplaced in the Group 2 Sires Produce Stakes finishing behind boom colt
All Too Hard 
.
"Looking back on it, that run in the Diamond took a lot out of him and he raced a bit flat in the Sires,' McEvoy said.
"We took no chances with him and just decided to tip him straight out."
Taking on a small field of only five runners, McEvoy will use this run as a trial in the lead up to his major Spring targets.
"I wanted to trial him earlier on but unfortunately they were called off," McEvoy said.
"I figured I don't have enough time to wait until the next trials are on so we've elected to run him this Saturday instead.
"At the moment our big plan is to aim him towards the Guineas.'
Jimando will only have one run in Adelaide before heading back to Melbourne where he will likely line up in the Listed McKenzie Stakes (1200m) at Mooney Valley.
"Depending on how he runs at Mooney Valley will determine which way we go with him,' McEvoy said.
"I've been really pleased with him at home, but we all know what they do at home is one thing and what they do on game day is another.
"I just want to see him perform before we really start pencilling in his big Spring goals."
