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By Ray Hickson

Trainer Greg Hickman is convinced there’s a blueprint for Pierata to overcome the classiest sprint field he’s met at Randwick on Saturday.

That blueprint is called the Sydney Stakes – the race that preceded The Everest back in October – and it’s how he wants the Group 1 $2.5m Aquis TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) to unfold.

Hickman is taking a level headed approach to the TJ saying as good as he knows Pierata is jockey Tommy Berry will need to perfectly execute the ride to post the four-year-old’s first Group 1 win.

“It’s the best race we’ve been in,’’ Hickman said.

“I want to get him to reproduce what he did in the Sydney Stakes. If he can we are right in the mix of it all.

“It’s about putting him into the race, like he was in the Sydney Stakes and if we can have him in the same position and give him his chance I’ll be happy with that.

“He’s been placed in Group 1s but there are horses there that have won three and four Group 1s, you have a horse that has won two Everests, it’s a really good sprint race.’’

The TJ Smith boasts six Group 1 winners while the other five runners have all been placed at Group 1 level.

Pierata wins the Sydney Stakes on Everest Day on October 13

Unbeaten in three starts over the Randwick 1200m, Pierata has attracted plenty of support since the final field was declared with TAB taking two $30,000 bets on Tuesday and he's third favourite at $6.

He’s been a sectional star in his two runs back from a spell, producing the fastest closing splits of both the Canterbury Stakes (1300m) and The Galaxy (1100m) – the latter a narrow defeat the trainer has to put behind him.

“You get over it, you win some and you lose some,’’ he said.

“You can’t do anything about it, they made a decision and you roll along with it. My ambition is to get him to the races as good as I possibly can and win the TJ.

“The sectionals suggest what he’s been doing is good and he’s improved with every run.’’

In the Canterbury Stakes, Pierata ran a 32.92 last 600m and the quickest last 200m of 11.43 while in the Galaxy he ran 34.52 for his final 600m and the only horse to run a faster last 200m than Pierata’s 11.96 was Winx.

The Punter’s Intelligence data shows he’s clearly flying and Hickman said he doesn’t necessarily need a heavy track, though it’d clearly be in his favour.

The entire worked over 1000m with Berry in the saddle on Tuesday morning and Hickman said he’s pulled up in super shape.

“He’s had the two races going into this, he’s as good as we can get him,’’ he said.

It’s likely Pierata will progress to the Group 1 $600,000 All Aged Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on April 20 and whether he races on next season could be determined by his results in that race and the TJ.

All the fields, form and replays for Day 1 of The Championships at Royal Randwick