New Zealand-bred Group One winner Jimmysstar will follow a proven path to next month’s A$20 million The Everest (1200m), which will begin on Saturday in the A$1 million Gr.3 Concorde Stakes (1000m) at Randwick.

Former stablemate Bella Nipotina kicked off her spring preparation in the race last year, finishing second behind I Am Me, before running third in the Gr.2 Premiere Stakes (1200m) before winning last year’s edition of The Everest.

Trainer Ciaron Maher has elected to follow an identical path with Jimmysstar.

“I was toying whether to kick him off in this race or in two weeks’ time but just the way he’s prepped up, it would be a similar preparation to what Bella did,” Maher told Racing.com.

“He can run here, and then in the Premiere, and then two weeks into The Everest.”

The six-year-old son of Per Incanto has won half of his 18 career starts, including the Gr.1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) and Gr.1 All-Aged Stakes (1400m) earlier this year, and Maher believes the best is still to come from his gelding.

“It was a real breakout prep last campaign,” he said. “In four Group Ones, he was able to secure two and wasn’t too far away in the other two.

“I feel he’s got a bit more to come, and he’s certainly trialled up in good order.

“You can just ride him where he’s comfortable and let him hit the line as we know that he will improve off that first-up run.

“He likes that little bit of freshness on his side too, so the aim will be a couple of prep runs and then hopefully have him right to go."