Jojo Was A Man Triumphs in Winter Stakes

Mark Smith - Saturday July 20

Making his 32nd start a few weeks short of turning seven and sporting one of the most recognizable set of colours in racing, Jojo Was A Man broke an 81-week drought with a maiden stakes success in Saturday’s Listed Toyota Forklifts Winter Challenge (1500m) at Rosehill.

It was Jojo's day (image Steve Hart)

Ridden by Reece Jones for John Thompson, Jojo Was A Man (Al Maher) led home a long-priced trifecta, defeating  More Secrets (More Than Ready) by a long neck with Charterhouse (GB) (Charming Force) a neck back in third.

Third in this race in 2022, the son of Al Maher advances his record to eight wins, three seconds, and two thirds from 32 starts with earnings of $590,440.

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“He just got a little bit keen the other day in the blinkers for the first time, but he was a lot better today with a nice tempo,” Thompson said.

 “He just cruised along behind them and, I think, getting back on top of the ground helped. He gets through the wet, but he can accelerate on top of the ground.”

A homebred for the Tait family, Hoboken Stud and partners, Jojo Was A Man is the best of two winners from as many runners for the talented Reset mare Jo Jo Girl whose dam  Margot's Slippers (General Nediym) is a half-sister to the Group III VATC Mannerism Stakes winner Red Nile.

Jo Jo Girl has a yearling colt and weanling filly by Shamus Award.

Kermadec covered the daughter of Reset last spring.

Jojo Was A Man is the 39th stakes-winner for the former Emirates Park stalwart Al Maher, who last served in 2022.

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Race Result - Toyota Forklifts Winter Challenge LR 1500m

Rosehill Track: Soft(5) Time: 1:30.06
1
Jojo Was A Man
- 6g Al Maher (AUS) x Jo Jo Girl (AUS) (Reset (AUS))
Tnr: John Thompson Rdr: Reece Jones 53
2
0.5
More Secrets
- 6m More Than Ready (USA) x Secret Indulgence (NZ) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: M, W & J Hawkes Rdr: Tim Clark 54.5
More Than Ready
3
0.8
Charterhouse
- 6g Charming Thought (GB) x Crocus Rose (GB) (Royal Applause (GB))
Tnr: C Maher Rdr: J B Mc Donald 56.5
4
1.2
Testator Silens
- 6g Star Witness (AUS) x So Detached (AUS) (One Cool Cat (USA))
Tnr: Joseph Pride Rdr: Zac Wadick 53
5
1.9
War Eternal
- 5g Pierro (AUS) x Aleria (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: Bjorn Baker Rdr: Rachel King 53
6
2.6
Junipal
- 8g Reset (AUS) x Palatine Hill (AUS) (Palace Music (USA))
Tnr: C Maher Rdr: Ashley Morgan 53
7
3.5
Tamerlane
- 6g Golden Horn (GB) x Wordcraft (GB) (Shamardal (USA))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: Zac Lloyd 60.5
8
3.7
King Of The Castle
- 7g Castledale (IRE) x The Prima Donna (NZ) (Centaine (AUS))
Tnr: Joseph Pride Rdr: Tyler Schiller 53.5
9
7.7
New Mandate
- 6g New Bay (GB) x Mishhar (IRE) (Authorized (IRE))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: N Rawiller 58
10
8.6
Zoe's Promise
- 4m Swear (AUS) x Kinz Funky Monkey (USA) (The Green Monkey (USA))
Tnr: K A Lees Rdr: J Ford 53
11
9.7
Otyrar
- 6g New Approach (IRE) x Ollie Olga (USA) (Stormy Atlantic (USA))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: Ms W Costin 53
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