Chris Waller declares it’s all systems go for classy mare Joliestar ahead of the $20m The Everest

Champion trainer Chris Waller won the biggest races in Australia but admits to still feeling the pressure ahead of the $20m The Everest.

Chris Waller has trained more than 160 Group 1 winners and earned Hall of Fame honours but he admitted to still getting nervous on the eve of Sydney racing’s biggest day at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

The champion trainer has Joliestar lining up in the $20 million TAB Everest (1200m) and Fangirl in the $5 million King Charles III Stakes (1600m) with both outstanding mares challenging for favouritism in their respective Group 1 races.

“There is a little bit of nerves, especially for The Everest,” Waller said.

THE RACE: A DEEP DIVE INTO THE EVEREST

“The race is worth so much money and there is so much at stake. You have the slot-holders, you have the owners of the horse, the expectation of the public, and it sounds like it is a sell-out at Randwick on Saturday.

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“All of these various aspects create pressure but it is a pressure that is a privilege to be a part of.

“The Everest is the most talked about sprint race in the world. It is an amazing race and it really has taken racing in Sydney to a new level.”

Waller was holding court at Rosehill trackwork on Thursday morning as Fangirl and Joliestar completed their race preparations with solo workouts on the course proper before a media contingent that included cameramen from five television channels, plus print and online journalists.

This was the largest media presence at a Rosehill trackwork session since Waller’s mighty mare Winx was preparing for her farewell race five years ago but the trainer not only held an all-in press conference, he then patiently granted interviews to individual journalists for nearly an hour.

Waller might be nervous but he is also used to the pressure and handles the demands of the media with ease.

It also helps that the trainer has won The Everest twice previously with Nature Strip (2021) and Yes Yes Yes (2019), and the inaugural King Charles III Stakes with Fangirl last year.

“Having been there before, regardless of what sport you are in, whether it is a final of a footy game or you have been to the Olympics, our stable has been in this situation before and that does help you to relax and deal with the moment,” he said.

Waller also knows both his mares are prepared to the minute for Saturday’s rich races.

Joliestar, who was watched in her morning workout by owners Brendan and Jo Lindsay of New Zealand’s famous Cambridge Stud, goes into The Everest after a last start defeat when third to Sunshine In Paris in the Sheraco Stakes nearly five weeks ago.

But Waller has set Joliestar a deliberate training program that has her fresh and ready for The Everest.

“We are not concerned she got ‘beat’ last start,” Waller said.

“It was just how the race panned out, in our opinion. It turned into a big gap from first to last, they were spread out, she was out on a limb and made to look plain.

“But she has a good draw (four) on Saturday, she is a fresh horse and it is all systems go, we are very happy with her.”

Waller admitted he hasn’t looked too closely at The Everest field to nominate one rival as Joliestar’s main danger.

“It is a great field, we respect that, and it will make for a great spectacle on Saturday – there is no turning back once we get here,” he said.

“But the barrier draw was crucial to us because it allows Joliestar to be comfortable in the run. Having her comfortable in the first half of the race it will ensure she is ready to launch in the concluding stages.”

The King Charles III Stakes is different – Horse of the Year and race favourite Pride Of Jenni is clearly the horse to beat.

Pride Of Jenni returns to Royal Randwick for the first time since her spectacular win in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes last autumn when she led that 2000m race by as much as 30 lengths mid-race and still have a lead of more than six lengths when she crossed the line well clear of another Waller-trained mare, Via Sistina.

Waller – and everyone else – knows what to expect on Saturday with Pride Of Jenni adopting her famous “catch-me-if-you-can” tactics.

“It is such an interesting race with Pride Of Jenni in the field,” Waller said.

“She was Australian Horse of the Year last season. She came to Sydney last autumn and was unbelievably good. She is the one to beat.

“This is what the fans want, they want to see the best horses come together, they want to see that excitement, they want to see the best clash.

“Fangirl loves the mile, she loves Randwick and she loves good tracks so hopefully the good weather continues through to Saturday.”

Waller said the tactics for Fangirl’s jockey James McDonald are simple – keep within striking distance of Pride Of Jenni.

“We have to ride our horse in her comfort zone. She is a great horse, we saw that in this race last year,” he said.

“But what Pride Of Jenni brings is a different style of racing. I think Fangirl is ready for it, she is a very fit athletic horse.

“If we are within six lengths of the lead on the turn, I’m confident Fangirl will be fighting out the finish with Pride Of Jenni.”

Originally published as Chris Waller declares it’s all systems go for classy mare Joliestar ahead of the $20m The Everest