Best yet to come for Nipster – Steadman

Jockey Linton Steadman said he is hoping that his victory in the Jamaica St Leger last weekend will reignite his career.

Steadman, who has had limited success in the saddle over the past few years, won his second Jamaica St Leger of his career in an upset aboard the 33-1 shot, NIPSTER, over 2,000 metres.

The Gary Subratie-trained three-year-old colt upstaged race favourite and stablemate WOW WOW, who finished second in the event.

The victory was Steadman's fourth of the year and he said that this is a boost for his career.

"I am hoping that everyone will see that I am back to my best and I am ready to win a lot more races," he said.

"It will give me a lot of confidence and show the trainers that I still have it in me to win big races."

Steadman, who has had weight troubles over the past three years, said that he has worked hard to improve his fitness and also to bring down his weight.

"In racing, win follows win, so let's see what is going to happen now that I won this St Leger," he said.

"I think that I am back to my best because I am actually at 113lbs, so I am fully equipped again and ready to show my talent and my worth at Caymanas Park."

He said that NIPSTER, who won the race by a length and a quarter, captured the event with more left in the tank. Steadman also said that NIPSTER is going to be very difficult to beat in the Jamaica Derby, which will be run over 12 furlongs.

"I think that animal performed brilliantly because he had the race covered from the start, and the only thing I had to do was to just give him a comfortable ride and I did that, so I am very pleased about that," Steadman said.