Joliestar in class of her own as she cruises to victory in Show County Stakes at Randwick and stakes her claims for The Everest
Outstanding mare Joliestar firmed for The Everest following her brilliant first-up demolition in the Show County Quality at Randwick.
Horse Racing
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Joliestar produced the perfect The Everest audition with an explosive and arrogant first-up victory at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
The Chris Waller-trained mare couldn’t have been more impressive as she made a mess of rivals to run away with the Group 3 $250,000 Show County Quality (1200m).
Star jockey James McDonald had time to make a sustained look over the shoulder inside the final furlong and eased the mare down late as she raced clear for a dominant three length success.
It saw TAB quickly slash Joliestar from $21 into an $8 second pick for The Everest with I Wish I Win currently a $4.50 favourite for the richest race on turf.
“She’s very good isn’t she,” Waller, whose stable have an Everest slot, said.
“She’s well named, she’s a star.
“In the autumn she was dominant in the Arrowfield (3YO Sprint).
“The owners, Brendan and Jo (Lindsay), have looked after her so well and have been so patient and they’re reaping the rewards now so it does help with looking towards slot interest.
“But most importantly, see how she comes through it, and wherever she goes, she’s going to be a star.”
Waller has already won The Everest twice with Yes Yes Yes (2019) and Nature Strip (2021).
Joliestar is now unbeaten in two runs over The Everest track and trip after she won her only autumn run in the Group 2 Arrowfield 3YO Sprint.
Her Show County victory was her most impressive to date and enhanced her record to four wins and three placings from seven starts.
McDonald sat one off the fence in a midfield position and eased Joliestar towards the middle of the track from the top of the straight.
Joliestar ($2.60 fav) unleashed a stunning sprint when McDonald asked for an effort, quickly gapping her rivals with the Angela Davies-trained Our Kobison ($3.80) edging out Brad Widdup’s Phearson ($51) for the minor placings.
The clock backed up what the eyes told you about Joliestar’s performance with the mare surging home with a last 600m of 32.71 second, running splits of 11.04, 10.49 and 11.18 for her final three furlongs.
“I expected her to win, but not with that much ease, she executed really well,” McDonald said.
Joliestar returns with a bang! That was arrogant 😳 @cwallerracing@mcacajamezpic.twitter.com/PJd0XxfDtb
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) August 24, 2024
“She’s been working like a really, really good horse at home, and it’s been hard work containing her but they’ve done a really good job.
“It’s been really nice to let the shackles off, so to speak and let her rip.”
McDonald, who completed a race-to-race stakes double after winning the Silver Shadow Stakes on Ameena, added that he thought Joliestar had “at least” one more gear.
The daughter of Zoustar had been among the acceptors for both the Group 3 Toy Show Quality (1100m) and Show County but Waller was keen for her to show what she could do over six furlongs first-up.
She had been a winner over a mile in the Group 1 Thousand Guineas last spring.
“I’m still learning, learnt a lot today,“ Waller said.
“I think she was in her comfort zone over 1200m, I was pleased that we didn’t run her over 1100m, we’ll just see what James thinks.
“She travelled comfortably, didn’t overrace it was perfect.”
Runner-up Our Kobison was far from disgraced in his first crack in stakes grade.
The Gosford-based sprinter sat outside the lead and continued to battle on strongly for the length of the straight.
“It was a great run, the winner was just too good,” McEvoy said.
Phearson was three-deep as the field rounded the turn but fought on bravely over the concluding stages as a big price.
Spring prospects Democracy Manifest and Southport Tycoon both missed the placings but were doing their best work late in their respective returns.
Originally published as Joliestar in class of her own as she cruises to victory in Show County Stakes at Randwick and stakes her claims for The Everest
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