Joliestar produces perfect Everest trial with Shorts win
Chris Waller’s star mare Joliestar (5 m Zoustar – Jolie Bay by Fastnet Rock) announced herself as a genuine contender for next month’s Everest (Gr 1, 1200m) with a dominant performance in Saturday’s $1 million The Shorts (Gr 2, 1100m) at Randwick.
Sent out a $4.80 chance, the Kingsford-Smith Cup (Gr 1, 1200m) heroine was posted deep throughout but never flinched under James McDonald, surging clear to beat Briasa (Smart Missile) by 1.2 lengths with Generosity (Divine Prophet) running on for third another length behind.
“I only had one objective and that was to get her into a smooth rhythm, I didn’t want a stop-start affair,” McDonald said. “She slid around, albeit deep, but how I was thinking was Briasa was the one to beat and he was just inside me. She’s a solid horse that runs seven furlongs, that was thrilling and she deserves a spot in The Everest. I think she will make her presence felt.”
Waller was glowing in his assessment of the mare’s progression. “She was awesome. She’s come back well, and she’s four weeks out from a very big race,” he said. “We haven’t asked her [to do a lot] to be truthful, but I can see a more mature horse now.”
The win catapulted Joliestar into $7 second favouritism for the $20 million Everest, behind only $1.70 favourite Ka Ying Rising (Shamexpress).
Private Harry (Harry Angel), sent off the $2.15 favourite after five undefeated starts, faded to fifth after looming early, with jockey Ash Morgan conceding: “I was under pressure a long way from home, I was flat from about the 350 metres.”
Waller confirmed Joliestar will head straight to the Everest on October 18.