Jimmy The Bear worth the shout for passionate owner-breeder Mike Hirst

Owner Mike Hirst reveals the story behind the breeding of Jimmy The Bear which goes back to his determination to buy a filly related to a Kentucky Oaks winner.

Jimmy The Bear could again pay for drinks in a Hobart sports bar on Saturday with Caulfield victory but not at the direct expense of passionate owner-breeder Mike Hirst.

Hirst shouted drinkers at the Pavilion, a Salamanca Place, Battery Point, watering hole last Saturday after boisterously cheering for triumphant Jimmy The Bear in the Listed Winter Championship Final at Flemington.

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“People were looking at me stupid,” the former Racing Victoria chairman laughed.

“(Partner) Lizzie and I were screaming out, ‘Go Jimmy, go Jimmy’ to the point they were all looking at us silly.

“I decided I better shout the bar because I interrupted their afternoon a little too much, it’s a small pub though.”

Jimmy The Bear, trained by Patrick and Michelle Payne, is the $1.65 favourite in the VOBIS Gold Heath (2000m) at Caulfield.

The six-year-old Jimmy Creed gelding, out of Hirst-owned Belvedere Road, has won three of his past five starts and placed second twice in a stellar winter campaign.

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Jimmy The Bear, a $1.2m prizemoney winner, is a product of a 30-year dedication to a breeding theory – built around a direct descendant of 1955 Kentucky Oaks winner Lalun.

Hirst discovered a great-great-granddaughter of Lalun racing in Rockhampton, one of only two relations of the American mare in Australia at the time, and eventually bought her for $3000.

Hirst initially offered $20,000 to buy River Royal, the great-grandam of Jimmy The Bear, but the former owner insisted on racing the filly in north Queensland.

Hirst tried a second time – at $15,000 – after River Royal raced without success only to be knocked back again.

Jimmy The Bear has won three of his five starts this prep, including last week’s Winter Championship Series Final at Flemington. Picture: Racing Photos via Getty Images

Hirst finally secured River Royal, placed once in seven starts, and chased the dream to breed a Derby or Oaks winner.

He almost achieved the feat in 2019 with Victoria Derby runner-up Southern Moon, son of Puissance De Lune out of South Street, a daughter of Jimmy The Bear’s grandam On Southbank.

“River Royal’s progeny and her progeny’s progeny have now won north of $4m (prizemoney),” Hirst said.

“It doesn’t mean it’s been profitable, by the way, in fact, it’s not been!”

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Descendants of River Royal include 2006 Adelaide Cup runner-up Tubular Bells and 2012 Grand Annual Steeplechase winner Awakening Dream.

Jimmy The Bear’s sister Jenny The Beaver has won two of 15 starts and is an $8 chance in a 2450m Benchmark 64 at Geelong on Thursday.

Belvedere Road is in foal to Blue Point.

Jimmy The Bear has two young half-brothers, an unraced Omaha Beach two-year-old and Ghaiyyath weanling.

JIMMY THE BEAR 🐻💪

The Winter Championship Final goes to Patrick and Michelle Payne's warhorse! Forgot You was a mighty run for third at $61 for Team Busuttin/Young in honour of Peta Tait 💖@TheBeeegan@mj_paynepic.twitter.com/dmu3cIP7sX

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) July 5, 2025

“I was probably breeding a bit too much stamina and stayer, originally, so I’ve tried to put a bit more speed into (the family) as we’ve gone along,” Hirst said.

Jimmy The Bear could be freshened after Saturday but Hirst deferred to Payne for any future decisions.

“I don’t pretend to tell Patrick what to do, he’s a genius at placing his horses,” Hirst said.

“We did push him last year to run in the Toorak (Handicap) and after he went no good (eighth), and Patrick didn’t think we should do it but we wanted to have a crack, after that I promised we’d never, ever have a say in where he went, so I don’t.

“That will be up to Patrick, I’m not sure what he wants to do but he’s got to a rating now, if he wins again on Saturday … and it’s no certainty, I’d imagine Patrick will freshen him up a bit … if he wants to have a crack in spring so be it, and if he doesn’t, that’s fine too.”

Originally published as Jimmy The Bear worth the shout for passionate owner-breeder Mike Hirst