Racing: Jimmy Choux makes full recovery

Jimmy Choux takes out the Hawke's Bay Guineas. Photo / Hawke's Bay Today.

Like almost all horses who experience it, Jimmy Choux is showing no adverse effects of his brush with fibrillation, which saw him pulled up in the Levin Classic at Otaki last start.

The heart rhythm problem is almost always restricted to just the day and Hastings trainer John Bary and his veterinary advisers can find no ongoing issues.

Which puts the classy 3-year-old to the forefront of consideration for Sunday's $100,000 Stella Artois Great Northern Guineas at Ellerslie.

Jimmy Choux went into the Levin Classic with impressive victories in the group two Hawkes Bay Guineas and group one 2000 Guineas.

That's great form for a race that sees the main opposition coming from emerging, rather than established, topliners.

"I think one of the great things is that Jonathan (Riddell) knows this horse so well he pulled him straight out of the Otaki race the minute he felt the horse wasn't himself," said Bary yesterday.

"That meant there was no prolonged stress on the horse."

Bary said ECGs have proved spot on and the veterinarians Jimmy Choux was required to gallop in front of have been fully satisfied the horse is at his best.

"He's had a couple of very good gallops lately because we've had to know [whether to race at Ellerslie] and he's come through them terrific.

"Jonathan is the best judge because he knows the horse so well and he's entirely happy with him."

Jimmy Choux should have no problems with the right-handed track.

At his only start this way around he was beaten just a head and a nose by Banchee and Cellarmaster in the Diamond Stakes at Ellerslie in March.

On The Level and Raffles Knight look to be two top-class emerging 3-year-olds who have had just eight starts between them.

Both look to be staying types, despite On The Level being by short-course stallion Align.

Both are capable of improving that fraction more to be threats here.

Icepin has won a quarter of a million dollars, but has always flown under the radar.

It's worth remembering he chased Australian filly Sister Havana home in the Karaka Million at Ellerslie and was only half a length behind Jimmy Choux for second in the Hawkes Bay Guineas.

It was an R80 event he won last start at Pukekohe and to carry 57.5kg against the older horses was a good effort. Eight Schillings is an improver taking on top company for the first time.

GN GUINEAS

* Jimmy Choux shocked everyone when he was pulled out of the Levin Classic mid-race.

* But he is completely over the heart fibrillation that caused that hiccup.

* At his best he is the horse to beat in this race.