Ciaron Maher has opted to give promising galloper Jimmysstar (NZ) (Per Incanto) a short let-up after he had won his two starts for the stable since he came from New Zealand.

Maher said Jimmysstar had the ability to compete at a high level, but he had to increase his ratings from 77 to get into those races.

“Jimmysstar’s a great horse in the making. I’ve got a big wrap on him,” Maher said.

Maher said Jimmysstar had been well managed in New Zealand by his trainer Guy Lowry where he had three starts for a second at his debut before winning his next two starts.

A majority share in him was then sold into Australian ownership, headed by Ozzie Kheir and John O’Neill, and the four-year-old was then exported to Australia.

Jimmysstar overcame difficulties to come from a long way back to win his Australian debut for Maher and Eustace at Bendigo in a Benchmark 70 over 1300 metres before his last-start win at Cranbourne in the Shooting Stars, a Class 3 over 1500 metres.

Maher said he couldn’t have been more impressed with the four-year-old’s effort to win that race.

“He was ridden forward the other day when he won at Cranbourne and it could have got ugly, but he had a bit on them,” he said.

“I’ll give him a freshen. He’s a four-year-old and we need to get his ratings up to get into a good race.”