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By Ray Hickson

Ethan Brown can describe Jimmysstar’s preparation for Saturday’s TAB Everest in one word.

Jockey Ethan Brown (Pic: Racing Photos)

Faultless.

And that’s what he says he and the horse will need to be if he’s to overcome not only another wide barrier but the world’s best sprinter who he expects to be chasing down.

The 26-year-old has developed a real soft spot for Jimmysstar since teaming up to win the Oakleigh Plate earlier this year and he loves how Ciaron Maher has prepared him to peak in the Group 1 $20 million TAB Everest (1200m) at Randwick.

“He’s had to two perfect runs and by the time he gets to the race he’ll be trained to the minute,’’ Brown said.

“He’ll be peaking on the day. I wouldn’t swap him for anything, I love that horse and I think he’s airborne.

“In every horse race you always need a stroke of luck but given his racing style he generally needs a little bit more.”

With so much at stake Brown said you can’t be fixed to one set plan with any horse but he’s also wary of overthinking the race and trying to change too many things.

The gelding showed the sort of finish he can produce in his closing second behind Briasa in the Premiere Stakes (1200m) two weeks ago when he ran a final 600m of 32.48 (Punter’s Intelligence).

It’s that burst Brown sees as Jimmysstar’s biggest asset.

“His finish will win him the race,’’ he said.

“On paper it looks like it’s going to set up well for him in terms of speed. We’ve seen it time and time again with him, he can absorb that pressure mid race.

“He sits back and saves his carrots for the final 100m. His last 600m is so electric that not many horses can do what he does.

“He has his racing style and we’re going to have to trust he’s going to bring us that finish he can.”

Jimmysstar, $10 with TAB on Friday, runs in the TAB slot which was successful last year when they partnered with Bella Nipotina and Ciaron Maher.

Brown’s other key Everest Day ride is Pier in the Group 1 $5 million King Charles III Stakes (1609m) and while he’s facing a big test he says the Kiwi gelding will improve on his Epsom performance.

After an eye-catching placing behind Autumn Glow in the Theo Marks, it was expected that Pier could be in the finish of the Epsom but Brown felt the horse defaulted to his trend of regressing second-up.

“I thought he was a little bit plain second-up but he’s never fired second-up,’’ he said.

“My feedback was that he will improve out of the run and by all reports he has.”

Jimmysstar runs second in the Premiere Stakes

Like the Everest, it’s expected the King Charles will be something of a pressure cooker and Brown feels Pier can respond to that scenario.

“In the Brisbane race (in June) I rolled along with him and broke a track record so he’s a horse that will thrive off a bit of pressure,’’ he said.

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday’s TAB Everest meeting at Randwick