Joliestar arrives in the last hop in the Kingsford Smith Cup

Champion jockey James McDonald timed his run to perfection aboard Joliestar in the $1 million Group 1 Kingsford Smith Cup (1300m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

Joliestar gave James McDonald another Group 1 win in the Kingsford Smith Cup at Eagle Farm on Saturday. Photo: Reg Ryan/Getty Images.

Champion jockey James McDonald timed his run to perfection aboard Joliestar in the $1 million Group 1 Kingsford Smith Cup (1300m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

The Chris Waller-trained mare came from well back in the field to claim the weight-for-age feature in the final stride.

Joliestar defeated Zarastro by a nose with a similar margin back to Golden Mile in third.

An EPIC finish in the G1 Kingsford Smith Cup sees Joliestar nab them right on the line to take her third Group 1! 🤩@cwallerracing@mcacajamez@[e-mail]/9AimF9fMu7

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 7, 2025

The win was Joliestar’s sixth from 15 starts, her third at Group 1 level, and took her earnings to more than $4.5 million.

Waller indicated he would discuss Joliestar’s immediate with her owners but while holding a nomination for next week’s Stradbroke Handicap, the likelihood is the four-year-old will head to the paddock to begin her preparation for the $20 million The Everest in October.

Originally published as Joliestar arrives in the last hop in the Kingsford Smith Cup