Uncommon James set for Group 1 Melbourne spring targets after passing ‘make-or-break’ preparation

Queenslander Uncommon James has shown he still has the talent and the desire to be a racehorse and will be deployed in the Melbourne spring for a couple of Group 1 goals.

Matthew Hoysted IS eyeing some Group 1 targets for Uncommon James. Picture: Getty Images

It was a make or break preparation last time but Uncommon James passed with flying colours and the Queenslander has been given the green light to attack Group 1 sprinting features in the Melbourne spring carnival.

The Matt Hoysted trained galloper won the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate in 2023 but hasn’t won since and has had some setbacks along the way.

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Before heading for a Sydney autumn carnival tilt earlier this year, Hoysted wanted to see strong signs that Uncommon James was something near his brilliant best otherwise retirement would have beckoned.

But he was terrific in three runs in Sydney and his third behind Nathan Doyle’s super sprinter Private Harry in the Group 1 Galaxy – beaten only a length – stands out.

The six-year-old gelding is relatively lightly raced, only having had 19 starts.

Hoysted indicated he would be deployed back to familiar surrounds in Melbourne in the spring to attack races like the Group 1 Moir and Manikato Stakes.

We're just wild about Harry!!! 😍

Private Harry gives @ndoyleracing and @AshMorgan6 their first G1 success in The Galaxy, and remains unbeaten! 💪@KBloodstockNSW | @aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/rZj42n26u0

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 22, 2025

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He competed in both of the Group 1 Melbourne sprints in 2023, finishing third on each occasion.

“Uncommon James has only just come back into my stables this week,” Hoysted said.

“The plan is to head to Melbourne and we will probably run him first-up in the Carlyon Stakes and then go Moir into the Manikato.

“That last preparation was a bit of a make or break preparation for him.

“We needed him to show he still wanted to be a racehorse and he most certainly did that.

“We just had no luck in Sydney with barrier draws in all three runs.

“But he still showed that fight and desire that we wanted to see.

“So I am more than happy in thinking we will have him in good order for Melbourne, where he always settled in well.

“Those races should be nice targets for him.”

Uncommon James is chasing his first win since the 2023 Oakleigh Plate. Picture: Racing Photos via Getty Images

Hoysted indicated there could be other horses in his stable heading south for races in the spring.

Four-year-old mare Termagant, who was nominated for Ipswich on Saturday but won’t race, is one that Hoysted is keen to send south in the spring.

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The four-year-old daughter of Deep Field has won half of her 10 starts and was last seen shouldering a massive impost of 62.5kg to only go down a length over 1000m on the Sunshine Coast.

“Termagant is a smart horse, we have got Stakes class aspirations for her,” Hoysted said.

“She has got to step up but she is a very progressive type of mare and we want to travel her away.

“We just need to get her rating up.

“There are a couple of others in my stable that might be able to put their hand up between now and the spring.

“We might have two to four horses that we might look to send interstate.”