Joliestar (AUS)
2 f Zoustar – Jolie Bay by Fastnet Rock
O: B J Lindsay & Mrs J E A Lindsay
B: Chris Barham
T: Chris Waller
S: 2022 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale V: Segenhoe Thoroughbreds Australia P: Cambridge Stud, $950,000
W: Schweppes Maiden Plate, 1200m, June 12, Warwick Farm
Making her greatly anticipated debut having been purchased for $950,000 by Cambridge Stud at last year’s Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, Joliestar (Zoustar) did not disappoint as she showed plenty of battling attributes to land a 1200-metre maiden plate at Warwick Farm on Monday.
Ridden by Kerrin McEvoy for Chris Waller, the juvenile daughter of Widden Stud’s Zoustar (Northern Meteor) was smartly away before racing outside the leader in the opening stages.
Applying pressure before the home bend, the filly gained the upper hand upon straightening and dug deep when challenged over the latter stages to beat Kitty Chat (Menari) by a neck with a further head back to Arctic Glamour (Frosted) in third place.
“We gave Kerrin the option to roll forward from the draw,” assistant trainer Charlie Duckworth said. “When the likely leader [Kitty Chat] did not press on, we were happy to bide our time.
“She was very tough late. She was entitled to fold over the final 100 metres but stuck to her guns. Physically, she will be better in six months, so getting her to the races was great.
“Cambridge Stud are big supporters, so getting them a nice win from a filly who is a valuable commodity is great.”
Bred by Chris Barham, Joliestar is a half-sister to Group 2-placed scorer God Of Thunder (More Than Ready) and Group 3-placed winner Emperor (I Am Invincible) being the fifth winner from as many to race out of the top-class Fastnet Rock (Danehill) mare Jolie Bay.
Jolie Bay, winner of the Roman Consul Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m) and runner-up in the Coolmore Stud Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m), is a sister to dual Group 1 winner Merchant Navy, Listed winner Setanta, and stakes-placed winner Zara Bay. She has a yearling sister to Joliestar and revisited Zoustar last spring.