As successful as Ethan Brown’s Spring Carnival has been, there is still one major achievement missing — something he hopes to correct at Caulfield this Saturday.
The in-form jockey will chase his first Group 1 win of the season when he partners Jimmysstar in the $1 million CF Orr Stakes.
The Everest placegetter and last-start victor in the $3 million Russell Balding Stakes returns to Victoria for the first time this preparation, having been one of the key reasons Brown spent most of spring riding in Sydney.
Since early September, Brown has only ridden at three Victorian Saturday meetings — Champions Day, Cox Plate Day and Caulfield Guineas Day — a scheduling pattern shaped heavily by opportunities with Jimmysstar’s trainer Ciaron Maher and owners Ozzie Kheir and John O’Neill.
“It’s been a good spring, the bigger wins were definitely in Sydney but you just go where the good horses are and the opportunity is,” Brown, a winner of nine Group 1 races, said.
“I’ve had a lot of good backing this spring through Ciaron Maher and Ozzie and Johnny and plenty of other owners and I’ve made the most of that.”
Jimmysstar’s recent Russell Balding Stakes triumph has been Brown’s highlight this season, adding to his Group 2 Run To The Rose win aboard Tempted — the same horse on whom he later finished runner-up in the Group 1 Golden Rose.
Despite the many big wins, Brown has accumulated several big-race placings, becoming the only jockey to finish in the top three in Australia’s three richest races of 2025.
He placed in the $20 million The Everest with Jimmysstar, finished third on Middle Earth in the $10 million Melbourne Cup, and was second on Sepals in the $10 million Golden Eagle.
His mounts have earned $10,345,510 so far this season — trailing only James McDonald ($20,259,580) and Mark Zahra ($10,551,280) among Australia’s highest-earning jockeys.
Brown moved into the lead on the Victorian Jockeys’ Premiership after riding four winners at Seymour on Thursday, taking his state tally to 40.
Jimmysstar accounts for more than $3.9 million of those earnings and has firmly established himself among Australia’s premier sprinters.
His outstanding spring followed an autumn preparation where he claimed the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) and Group 1 All Aged Stakes (1400m). Brown believes this season has marked a turning point.
“He’s cemented himself as a proper weight-for-age horse I think and that’s been evident in his form,” Brown said.
“He had to take that step, but he’s certainly done that.”
After galloping Jimmysstar earlier in the week, Brown said the gelding feels primed for another peak performance against strong opposition, including his Everest rival Angel Capital.
“I jumped on him Monday, he worked really well, he’s drawn a nice gate (three) and there’s no reason why he’s not going to show up again,” Brown said.
“He’s had a big prep but there’s still a horse there and still the best of him I believe. He’s flying.”
Brown has a busy Caulfield card with eight rides, including Kaleo in the $400,000 Group 2 Sandown Guineas (1600m) and Rohesia in the $1 million Group 3 Thoroughbred Club Stakes (1200m).
If you’re having a bet on the CF Orr Stakes, compare odds and promos via the JHR bookmakers page.
