Post-race jockey reports from the 2025 Kingsford Smith Cup

This is what the jockeys had to say after the running of the Kingsford Smith Cup at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

Joliestar and James McDonald return to scale after winning the Kingsford Smith Cup. Photo: Grant Peters/Trackside Photography.

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.

This is what the riders thought of their mount’s performance in the Kingsford Smith Cup.

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1st - JOLIESTAR (James McDonald) She wasn’t entitled to win, but that’s how good she is. When I looked up at the 600m I thought I was OK, then I got on my bike but as soon as I did that, the pace quickened and the margin went from five lengths turning for home to seven lengths. It just didn’t feel like I was making ground. I was lucky I was on a proper horse, even though she didn’t like the ground at Eagle Farm today.

2nd - ZARASTRO (Angela Jones) So gutsy. He was all the way there, he was there to the last stride. Very proud.

3rd - GOLDEN MILE (Jason Collett) Good performance. Positioned himself well from the gate and still there at the finish. Happy.

4th - KIMOCHI (Craig Williams) She was really good and solid. Gave me a lovely ride throughout, the leaders got a break and we had to chase them down and she stuck to the task really well.

5th - RISE AT DAWN (Ethan Brown) He found them a bit sharp off the bridle but he ran really well. He blew out a bit late but up in trip is going to suit him and I think he’s come up really well this prep.

6th - GIGA KICK (Mark Zahra) Joliestar had a bit more tactical speed than us early so I came back and followed her. We gave them a big start but I probably would have liked him to finish off a bit better, like the winner.

7th - BENEDETTA (Tim Clark) She had a good run, it worked out beautifully. Just felt she lost a bit of confidence around the bend on that shifty ground and she has done a bit of racing this preparation so she may have just come to the end of it.

8th - LIBERTAD (Jamie Mott) A little bit below his best today. He had a perfect run but just found he wasn’t at his best.

9th - PAYLINE (Tommy Berry) He gave himself a real good whack out of the gates and never felt great after that.

10th - DEMOCRACY MANIFEST (Kerrin McEvoy) No comment provided.

Originally published as Post-race jockey reports from the 2025 Kingsford Smith Cup