Uncommon James (Image: Racing Photos)
Uncommon James has added a final string to his bow, with last autumn's Oakleigh Plate winner set for a career-best campaign.
Befitting his relatively low profile for a winner of a Group 1 at just his eighth start, Uncommon James strutted his impressive stuff around Kilmore on Friday in a set of relocated Victoria Racing Club trials, where he again showed to co-trainer Matthew Hoysted that he had progressed since last autumn.
"It (jumpout win) was probably made visually more impressive because we were in a heat where only one of them had won a race, but nevertheless, he can only do what he did," Hoysted said.
"Visually, he was really impressive. I liked the way he did it. He's a lot more mentally mature this time in.
"That was probably the last little thing he needed to do was to grow up a bit. In his racing manners, he was just a little bit hesitant and would do a few things wrong, so we feel this prep we're seeing that bit of improvement.
"Physically, he really has furnished from the spring last year to the autumn, but he was still doing a few things wrong on race day and that was where he was going to find his improvement.
"We feel we've seen that this time in and we think that was on show this morning."
Hoysted, who trains in partnership at Eagle Farm with Steve O'Dea, said Uncommon James is right where they want him for his first-up tilt in the G1 Moir Stakes (1000m) at The Valley on September 29.
"Imperatriz (Moir favourite) was nice and impressive last week, but we really think he's coming up well," Hoysted said.
"He's a lot more forward for this first-up run than when we went to the Rubiton (autumn) as he was still quite big for that run. But I think he's further forward, which he is going to need to be to tackle this race first-up.
"The plan was always Moir into the Manikato and then we'd look at the Champion Sprint."
Damian Lane made the short trip up the highway to Kilmore and he too was enthusiastic after the jumpout.
"He was super this morning," Lane said. "He's really coming up well.
"He jumped really sharply and there was a horse that took up the lead early and he was going to be quite happy to sit off it but mid-trial, he just wasn't doing enough so I just let him stride and from the 600 (metes) he just worked home really good.
"Just gave him a squeeze that last 200 just because he was having a look around as he was out in front and he worked up that hill nicely.
"So, he's going great."