D-Day looms for Group 1 winner Uncommon James in Queensland summer carnival

Group 1 winner Uncommon James hasn’t been able to find his brilliant sprinting best in recent times and his moment of truth will come in the Queensland summer carnival.

Uncommon James was in brilliant form when winning the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate in 2023. Picture: Racing Photos

Uncommon James was nowhere near his Group 1 Oakleigh Plate-winning best in the Queensland winter carnival and co-trainer Matt Hoysted has indicated he could be retired if he doesn’t bounce back strongly in summer.

The 2023 Oakleigh Plate champion was beaten more than 14 lengths in the Group 2 Victory Stakes and then was six-and-a-half lengths off I Wish I Win when finishing seventh in the Group 1 Kingsford Smith Cup.

Hoysted, who trains in partnership with Steven O’Dea, said Uncommon James wasn’t helped by racing both times on soft and shifty Eagle Farm tracks.

But the bottom line is that he must lift.

The weaker grade of the Queensland summer carnival is the next point of call for Uncommon James, who hasn’t won since his Oakleigh Plate heroics in February last year.

UNCOMMON JAMES SALUTES IN THE OAKLEIGH PLATE!

FIRST GROUP 1 BEN THOMPSON & O'DEA/HOYSTED! 👏@[e-mail]/w2sdV0UJVF

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) February 25, 2023

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“It was a disappointing couple of runs, but the feedback was he simply doesn’t enjoy softer ground and the two times he raced in the carnival it was really shifty and wasn’t ideal,” Hoysted said.

“So we didn’t see the best of him.

“But he has got to bounce back, pure and simple.

“He’s gone to have a break and we will be setting him for the summer carnival.

“We hope that a bit of a step back in grade can see him be able to reproduce some of his best form.”

Matt Hoysted with Uncommon James after scoring the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate last year. Picture: Getty Images.

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Uncommon James is owned and was bred by Hoysted’s wife Caitlin.

Hoysted insisted the sprinter had showed no signs in his work of not wanting to put in.

But if he didn’t fire on the track in summer, retirement could be calling.

“If he wasn’t to be bouncing back and being competitive in our summer carnival, we won’t just keep sending him around,” Hoysted said.

“If he shows he is not up to them in summer, then we will probably look to retire him.

“He’s done enough for our business and for the family, but hopefully we can see him bounce back when he drops back in grade.

“He is showing no signs of not wanting to do it, at home he is still going as well as ever.

“But the bottom line is that the racetrack performance just hasn’t been there.”

Originally published as D-Day looms for Group 1 winner Uncommon James in Queensland summer carnival