Jimmy Choux
Encyclopedia
Jimmy Choux is a New Zealand
thoroughbred
racehorse. On 5 March 2011, he won the 135th running of the New Zealand Derby
. In doing so, he became the first horse since Surfers Paradise
in 1990 to win both the New Zealand 2000 Guineas
and the New Zealand Derby.
A Group 2 winner and twice Group 1 placed as a two-year-old, Jimmy Choux's 2010-2011 season was among the most successful by a New Zealand three-year-old in recent history. As well as capturing the country's two biggest three-year-old races, the 2000 Guineas and the Derby, Jimmy Choux easily won the Hawke's Bay Guineas, Great Northern Guineas, Wellington Stakes and Waikato Guineas.
Some cast doubts over the prospects of Jimmy Choux in the Derby because his pedigree suggested that 2400m should be well beyond his capabilities. There was little evidence in his pedigree that Jimmy Choux would be able to run any further than a mile. But he showed his stamina, courage and tremendous quality when he produced a sensational performance to win the Derby by two lengths.
After his NZ Derby win, Jimmy Choux traveled to Australia. His first start there resulted in a Group One victory in the Rosehill Guineas
, confirming his status as one of Australasia's best three-year-olds. He started a short-priced favourite in the AJC Australian Derby but finished sixth in his final races as a three year-old. He was awarded New Zealand Horse of the Year for the 2010/11 season.
Jimmy Choux resumed as a four year old, on 27 August 2011, with a second placing in the Challenge Stakes at Hastings. He then won the Windsor Park Plate and the Spring Classic, his fourth and fifth Group 1 wins, confirming his status as one of the favourites for the Cox Plate
.
Jimmy Choux started second favourite in the Cox Plate. In the race he sat just off the pace and gained a clear lead around the final turn, before being run down late by Pinker Pinker to finish second.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
thoroughbred
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
racehorse. On 5 March 2011, he won the 135th running of the New Zealand Derby
New Zealand Derby
The New Zealand Derby is a set-weights Thoroughbred horserace for three-year-old, run over a distance of 2,400 metres at Ellerslie Racecourse in Auckland, New Zealand. It is held on the first Saturday in March, as the opening day of Auckland Cup Week. From 2009, it was run for a purse of $2.2...
. In doing so, he became the first horse since Surfers Paradise
Surfers Paradise (horse)
Surfers Paradise was a New Zealand Thoroughbred racehorse who is best remembered for winning the Cox Plate in 1991. By Crested Wave, Surfers Paradise was named after Queensland's iconic beachside strip....
in 1990 to win both the New Zealand 2000 Guineas
New Zealand 2000 Guineas
The 2000 Guineas is a set-weights Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old horses run over a distance of 1600 m at Riccarton Park in Christchurch, New Zealand...
and the New Zealand Derby.
A Group 2 winner and twice Group 1 placed as a two-year-old, Jimmy Choux's 2010-2011 season was among the most successful by a New Zealand three-year-old in recent history. As well as capturing the country's two biggest three-year-old races, the 2000 Guineas and the Derby, Jimmy Choux easily won the Hawke's Bay Guineas, Great Northern Guineas, Wellington Stakes and Waikato Guineas.
Some cast doubts over the prospects of Jimmy Choux in the Derby because his pedigree suggested that 2400m should be well beyond his capabilities. There was little evidence in his pedigree that Jimmy Choux would be able to run any further than a mile. But he showed his stamina, courage and tremendous quality when he produced a sensational performance to win the Derby by two lengths.
After his NZ Derby win, Jimmy Choux traveled to Australia. His first start there resulted in a Group One victory in the Rosehill Guineas
Rosehill Guineas
The Rosehill Guineas is an Australian Thoroughbred horse race run annually in March at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse in Sydney. A race for three-year-olds at set weights, it is contested on turf over a distance of 2000 metres .-Distance:...
, confirming his status as one of Australasia's best three-year-olds. He started a short-priced favourite in the AJC Australian Derby but finished sixth in his final races as a three year-old. He was awarded New Zealand Horse of the Year for the 2010/11 season.
Jimmy Choux resumed as a four year old, on 27 August 2011, with a second placing in the Challenge Stakes at Hastings. He then won the Windsor Park Plate and the Spring Classic, his fourth and fifth Group 1 wins, confirming his status as one of the favourites for the Cox Plate
Cox Plate
The W.S. Cox Plate is an Australian Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race held in Melbourne every October by the Moonee Valley Racing Club to honour W.S. Cox, the club's founder. For three-year-olds and over, the race is considered to be the Weight for Age championship of Australasia...
.
Jimmy Choux started second favourite in the Cox Plate. In the race he sat just off the pace and gained a clear lead around the final turn, before being run down late by Pinker Pinker to finish second.