Jimmysstar announces himself as an Everest contender with second Group 1 win for campaign in All Aged Stakes at Randwick

Ciaron Maher has found his next The Everest contender after Jimmysstar underlined his talent in the Group 1 All Aged Stakes at Randwick.

Ethan Brown waves his whip as Jimmysstar storms to victory in the Group 1 All Aged Stakes at Randwick. Picture: Getty Images

When Ciaron Maher retired The Everest winner Bella Nipotina earlier this year, he began looking for his next elite sprinter. The search is now officially over.

Jimmysstar made a real statement against a crack field in the $1.5m All Aged Stakes (1400m), confirming he is one of the nation’s elite sprinters when he gave most of his rivals a start and ran them down.

By adding the All Aged Stakes to his record, Jimmysstar is the only sprinter to win two Group 1 races so far this season, no horse can match his finishing speed, and he’s heading for the summit of Australian sprinting.

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Maher said the $20m The TAB Everest (1200m) at Royal Randwick in October is his long-term goal with Jimmysstar.

“I was thinking about The Everest after he won the Oakleigh Plate,” Maher said.

“Then, the other day, he ran home in quicker time in the TJ (Smith Stakes, third) than he did in the Oakleigh Plate, and his Oakleigh Plate was blistering.

“He’s just a very good horse and I’m sure he’ll make his presence felt in The Everest.”

Jimmysstar firmed from $15 into $11 for The Everest immediately after his All Aged Stakes win with slot-holders already circling connections trying to negotiate a deal for the world’s richest turf race.

Sydney’s final Group 1 race of the season produced a thrilling climax with Jimmysstar ($6), ridden by Ethan Brown, bursting through the pack to beat Joliestar ($9) by a half length with a brave Sunshine In Paris ($15) three-quarters of a length away third.

Briasa ($3.90 favourite) settled in second position to Belclare until the top of the straight when he wrested the lead and dashed clear but just as he was being hailed the winner, he started to fade and finished fourth.

“I thought he tried his darnedest,” said Tyler Schiller, rider of Briasa.

“He was probably was a little fierce early but relaxed nicely in the mid-stages. He quickened up well in the straight but probably didn’t see the 1400m out as strong as we would have hoped.”

✨ Jimmysstar adds another G1 to his list as he races away with the All Aged Stakes for @cmaherracing and @Brown_ethan8! 🙌@aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/Obg9FvV2KC

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 19, 2025

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Bella Nipotina gave Maher his first win in The Everest last spring and the trainer said there are comparisons with Jimmysstar.

“They’re not too dissimilar in size and shape,” Maher said of Jimmysstar and Bella Nipotina.

“He is such a ripper. This ‘prep’, he was so good winning the Oakleigh Plate and his next two runs have been absolutely outstanding.

“This has been a real come out preparation for ‘Jimmy’. A couple of states, it doesn’t matter. He performs and I take a lot of pride in that.

“To pull off two Group 1 wins with his horse is pretty special.”

Maher, who has now prepared 10 Group 1 winners and an Australian record for stable earnings of more than $53m prizemoney already this season, praised Brown for his brilliant winning ride.

“He’s a cool horse, ‘Jimmy’, and he’s got a pretty cool jockey as well,” Maher said.

“I said to ‘Browny’ maybe not to let him have a pick of grass when he’s at the barriers like last start.

“I wanted him to be a little more switched on so no wonder he gave him a cool ride today. He was half asleep last start.

“But that’s what those big riders in those big races (do), it was a confident ride and I’m thrilled for Browny. He’s a good mate.”

Brown had not ridden a winner in Sydney until combining with Maher to score on Sergeant Major in the South Pacific Classic last week.

“When he hits top gear, there’s not many horses that can go quicker."@Brown_ethan8 on Jimmysstar ✨@cmaherracing | @aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/ua6oxNbsAM

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 19, 2025

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“He said to me last week, ‘thanks for that, it was my first winner in Sydney’,” Maher said.

“I said, ‘you just write down what you want to do and we’ll see if we can achieve it. I’m rapt for him to ride a Group 1 winner in Sydney. I’m sure there’s a lot more in store and it is only just beginning.”

Brown completed a feature race double on the final day of the Sydney autumn carnival with his win on Jimmysstar complemented by his earlier success on Bois D’Argent in the Group 3 JRA Plate.

“He needed a cool ride today,” Brown said of Jimmysstar.

“Sometimes it doesn’t always go our way being a backmarker but we were able to get in front of Antino and that was one box ticked.

“Then it was just a matter of holding it together and looking for a gap. He was able to dive through the gap and when he hits top gear, there’s not many other horses that can go that quick.”

It’s been a breakout season for Brown who has now ridden six Group 1 winners during 2024-25 to take his career tally of major race wins to nine.

“I’d like to dedicate this to my nan. She’s quite crook in hospital at the moment - that was for her,” Brown said.

The talented Melbourne jockey spent most of 2023 recovering physically and mentally after being badly injured in a serious fall at Flemington.

Brown even flirted with retiring from the saddle but he spoke with Maher who told him “being a jockey is the best job in the world”.

Ciaron Maher and Ethan Brown embrace after winning the All Aged Stakes. Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images

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This piece of advice galvanised Brown into making a success of his riding career and he hasn’t looked back since.

“I’m just doing my best,” Brown said.

“Through that fall and my time in hospital, I was very close to hanging the boots up but there was something deep down telling me that I’m not finished yet and I’d be dirty on myself if I didn’t have a crack again.

“I’m very grateful that I’ve done that. I’ve always felt I’ve ridden well but it helps when you have the cattle under you and a lot of experience, too, over the last six months which has helped. Feels like I’m furnishing well as a rider.”

Zac Lloyd, rider of Joliestar, described the mare’s close second as a “fantastic” effort.

“It was a very gallant effort. She felt the winner on the bend,” Lloyd said.

Jockey Chad Schofield lamented what might have been after Sunshine In Paris ran a brave third after enduring a wide run.

“Unfortunately the draw cost her again today. She went super,” Schofield said.

Godolphin’s gifted Broadsiding seemed to have his chance could struggled to finish only 10th.

“I reckon I rode him a fraction out of his comfort zone and that told the last little bit,” said James McDonald, rider of Broadsiding.

“I reckon if I rode him a little bit quieter, he would have been in the finish. He’s done a really good job. Has been a super horse to be apart of.”

Originally published as Jimmysstar announces himself as an Everest contender with second Group 1 win for campaign in All Aged Stakes at Randwick