Brown Taking Open Mind Into Jimmy's All Aged Defence

Jockey Ethan Brown says it’s important he’s flexible with how he goes about giving Jimmysstar (NZ) (Per Incanto) his best chance to defend his title in Saturday’s Group 1 $1.5 million Schweppes All Aged Stakes (1400m) at Randwick.

As tempting as it is to buy into theories about how the track will play, Brown said he’ll keep an open mind as the day unfolds and hopes as it does that barrier 12 won’t be a disadvantage.

The Ciaron Maher-trained gelding wasn’t aided by gate two in the TJ Smith Stakes as he was squeezed out by runners either side of him at the start before motoring home late into fifth.

“It’s going to take a good ride on my behalf,’’ Brown said.

“But if there’s one positive he shouldn’t be getting poleaxed out of the gates from out there.

“He’s a horse you can’t change too much with, he is going to need some luck from his draw but we’ll work out a game plan and I’ll execute as best I can.

“You can’t overthink it, hopefully the track is playing into our hands because he has drawn that awkward gate and if they are coming down the outside it’s only going to help him.”

There were questions over whether Jimmysstar, $5 with TAB on Thursday, had come back in his spring form when he was a short priced favourite and beaten out of a place in the William Reid at Caulfield a month ago.

Brown wasn’t on board that day but said it was evident there were excuses. And when he was in the saddle again two weeks back the run told him he was on target, just as he was 12 months ago coming through the same race.

“He drew barrier one (first-up) on a track where they were getting way off the fence so it was always going to be hard so the run was still a pass mark,’’ he said.

“Things didn’t go our way last start either. I think last start you can confidently say he’s back in form the way he hit the line, and he’s looking for 1400m.”

The six-year-old, placed in the TAB Everest off a wide gate in October, will be aiming to be the first back-to-back All Aged Stakes winner since Rough Habit (NZ) (Roughcast) in 1992 and 1993.

His last two runs at 1400m have resulted in Group 1 wins, the Orr Stakes back in the spring to go with his All Aged success, and Brown said one thing you know about Jimmysstar is he can go out there confident the horse will put in.

“You know when he goes out 99 per cent of the time he’s going to give his all,’’ he said.

“He’s matured throughout his career, some horses don’t do that but he’s gone to another level obviously in his form.

“It’s just the way he goes about things these days, he’s much more professional and much more relaxed.”