Post-race jockey reports from the 2025 Oakleigh Plate

This is what the jockeys had to say after the running of the Oakleigh Plate at Caulfield on Saturday.

Jimmysstar takes out the Oakleigh Plate at Caulfield on Saturday. Photo: Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images.

The Ciaron Maher-trained Jimmysstar unleashed a withering finish to take out the $750,000 Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield on Saturday.

Jimmysstar travelled back near the tail of the field before powering home out wide on the track to overhaul the leaders inside the final 100m.

Jimmysstar’s win was his eighth from 15 starts and took his earnings to more than $1.3 million.

The five-year-old gelding by Per Incanto (USA) defeated She’s Bulletproof with Rey Magnerio in third.

JIMMYSSTAR STORMS HOME TO WIN THE OAKLEIGH PLATE! 🚀@cmaherracing@Brown_ethan8pic.twitter.com/aaaPoqhJJD

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) February 22, 2025

Jimmysstar was ridden by Ethan Brown.

This is what the riders thought of their mount’s performance in the Oakleigh Plate.

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1st - JIMMYSSTAR (Ethan Brown) I haven’t had a horse probably go as quick, ever. I’d love to see his sectionals late, he flew late, what a training performance to have a 1400 metre horse fresh up in an Oakleigh Plate and run like that, it’s quite amazing. When I looked up and the field bunched I thought geez we’re really in striking range here. I straightened up on She’s Bulletproof’s back and thought I’ve just got to bide my time here, take a breath and once that gap opened, geez he let go well.

2nd - SHE’S BULLETPROOF (Craig Williams) I was so proud of her performance. First time against that level in that type of race. She was so brave, but the winner was too sharp for us today, but I was so proud of her.

3rd - REY MAGNERIO (Jye McNeil) He ran fantastic as always. Onwards and upwards towards the Newmarket.

4th - HEADWALL (Harry Coffey) Very unlucky and very disappointed the luck didn’t come early in the straight. With some luck, I would say I would have been the run of the race.

5th - ARABIAN SUMMER (Jamie Melham) Massive effort. Ran fantastic. If she drew a gate and the track was a bit softer it would have been interesting.

6th - ESPIONAGE (Dean Yendall) The run was pretty honest. He bounced, I had to give him a little squeeze to be a bit more forward than middle. He settled really well three-wide with cover. Travelled good underneath me struck daylight entering the straight and was a bit vulnerable and he can only improve out of the run.

7th - SGHIRRIPA (Michael Dee) He jumped clean, which was the plan to, but he just didn’t appreciate being in tight quarters with a big horse with a big action. He would have appreciated more room.

8th - PRAIRIE FLOWER (Kayla Crowther) Super run. Didn’t really get a look at them but late had a lot of horse underneath me and made up ground.

9th - OSTRAKA (Mark Zahra) It was a hard goal today.

10th - ASHFORD STREET (Teo Nugent) Tough honest effort. Jumping up to Group 1 class today, he acquitted himself well.

11th - SANS DOUTE (Liam Riordan) She ran well but is probably more effective down the straight.

12th - GOLDEN BOOM (Damian Lane) Unfortunately we had to do too much mid-race to get to the lead and he raced at his top for too long and he had to get tired.

13th - I AM ME (Nash Rawiller) She stepped a little bit awkwardly and I felt I never got into my comfort zone. Nothing really happened for her in the straight and we ended up missing a run. I feel she’s going quite well.

14th - ESTRIELLA (Blake Shinn) She just didn’t finish off. We had cover, she presented, but she just didn’t run on. She just wasn’t herself.

15th - INSURRECTION (Regan Bayliss) Too much pressure for a horse like him. He felt like he was at his top for the whole race. He probably needs to do it a bit easier.

16th - HARD TO SAY (Craig Newitt) He was a beaten horse on the corner. He got buffeted around a fair bit. He found them a bit tough for him.