Mission accomplished for Jester’s Girl

It was mission accomplished for Sydney trainer Gerald Ryan and owner Dean Fleming when mum-to-be Jester’s Girl made a successful hit-and-run visit to Eagle Farm on Saturday.

Ryan and Fleming hatched a plan for Jester’s Girl to win a stakes race after she was served by Magic Albert at Yarraman Park recently.  They targeted the LR Travel Associates Classic (1200m) and the mare did the rest.

Jester’s Girl (4m Commands – How Funny by Rory’s Jester) was ridden patiently by jockey Paul Hammersley before powering home to edge out Bound To Blush (Strategic).  “I haven’t spoken to Dean yet but there’s only a small window in which she can race while in foal,” Ryan said.  “I’m not sure if there’s anything suitable coming up so she could be retired immediately.”

The Fleming family own Tyreel Stud and Dean Fleming bred her from precocious filly How Funny.  She won the LR Tommy Smith Slipper at Doomben in December 2002 before running seconds to Regimental Gal in the Magic Millions Classic and Polar Success in the G1 Golden Slipper.

Ryan was in a positive frame of mind before the race even though Jester’s Girl was resuming from a 16 week spell and a visit to the breeding barn.  “When I phoned Paul (Hammersley) for the ride, I told him not to look at her form last time in,” Ryan said.  “She’s been very unlucky in a lot of her races and the whole plan when she came back into work was to aim her for this race.”

Jester’s Girl is the 51st stakes winner for Commands who stands at Darley Kelvinside at a fee of $55,000 (inc. gst).  He has sired three G1 winners this season – Epaulette (Golden Rose), Commanding Jewel (Thousand Guineas) and Appearance (Myer Classic).

How Funny lost foals by Hussonet and Duke Of Marmalade when they died after birth in 2009 and ’10.  The mare delivered a More Than Ready colt safely in September for the Flemings.

JESTER’S GIRL
Commands mare (outer) wins while in foal to Magic Albert