Champion trainer Chris Waller wants to find out if Joliestar can be a prospect for The Everest

Joliestar has been nominated for both the Group 3 Toy Show Quality and Group 3 Show Country Quality but trainer Chris Waller has revealed his preference.

Joliestar will get the chance to enhance her The Everest credentials this Saturday. Picture: Getty Images/Jeremy Ng

Lessons learned from last spring are helping trainer Chris Waller shape gun mare Joliestar’s quest for this year’s $20 million The Everest.

Joliestar is likely to make her return this Saturday in the Group 3 $250,000 Show Country Quality (1200m) at Royal Randwick.

It’s the first step on a road that Waller believes has the potential to end at same venue on October 19 as he attempts to find out if Joliestar is up to challenging for the richest race on turf.

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Waller had similar plans for smart stablemate Zougotcha 12 months ago before she kicked off her preparation in the Group 3 Toy Show Quality (1100m) on the corresponding weekend last year.

Like Joliestar, Zougotcha came into the spring with Group 1 three-year-old form at the mile but never made it to The Everest.

WATCH: Classy mare Joliestar (@mcacajamez) completes a 1000m gallop at Rosehill followed by her @cwallerracing stablemates Zougotcha (@TommyBerry21) and Atishu (@G1TySchil). Each pencilled in for returns next Saturday. @tabcomaupic.twitter.com/nUlvaTiUcD

— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) August 17, 2024

“It’s interesting, I thought exactly the same with Zougotcha (being up to The Everest) last year, hence the reason why I don’t want to start her (Joliestar) over the 1100m distance,” Waller said.

“We did with Zougotcha, she started in the Toy Show on the same day, so I am not going to the 1100m with Joliestar, I want to go to 1200m.”

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While Waller said the Show County is the “most likely” option for Joliestar, he also nominated the mare for the Group 3 $250,000 Toy Show Quality (1100m).

But the champion trainer believes a testing six-furlong event is the ideal platform for Joliestar to show she’s up to an Everest tilt.

Joliestar was a winner at The Everest track and trip at her only autumn start with a determined victory in the Group 2 Arrowfield 3YO Sprint.

Joliestar was a winner of the Arrowfield 3YO Sprint in the autumn. Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images

“To win an Everest, you would want to be pretty impressive over 1200m first-up,” Waller said.

“Then you have to find a way to keep the speed in her to you get to an Everest.

“If I was say chances, I would say she is a 20 per cent chance of getting to an Everest, but there are so many other options there that are as important as an Everest.”

Joliestar has been $4.50 into $3 favouritism to win the Show County Quality while she has been $4.50 out to $8 to win the Toy Show Quality.

Waller could also have as many as six runners in the Group 1 $1 million Winx Stakes with Fangirl, Via Sistina, Riff Rocket, Atishu, Zougotcha and Buckaroo.

Originally published as Champion trainer Chris Waller wants to find out if Joliestar can be a prospect for The Everest