Premier Sydney trainer Chris Waller has backed Joliestar to again fill his slot in the $20 million The Everest ahead of her return run on Saturday in the group 2 Sheraco Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill.
Waller announced late on Wednesday that the five-year-old Zoustar mare would contest the October 18 1200m race at Randwick in the slot held by him and partners Neville and Jenny Morgan, Noel and Maria Greenhalgh, Winx part-owners Peter and Patricia Tighe, and Ingham Racing.
Joliestar and James McDonald winning the Show County Quality at Randwick last year.Credit: Getty
Joliestar was seventh, just one and a half lengths away from winner Bella Nipotina, in last year’s edition of the richest race on turf. She became the fifth runner confirmed for this year’s 12-horse race, after Private Harry, Briasa, Jimmysstar and odds-on favourite Ka Ying Rising. Joliestar, now a three-time group 1 winner, was $10 with Sportsbet before the news.
Waller, who has trained two winners of the race – Yes Yes Yes (2019) and Nature Strip (2021) – also has Lady Shenandoah in calculations this year after her impressive and unlucky second last Saturday to Headwall in the $1 million Concorde Stakes (1000m) when first-up over an unfamiliar distance at Randwick. She was into the third line of betting for the Everest at $7 despite not yet having a slot.
Despite that run from the star four-year-old, Waller and partners have opted to back Joliestar, which has trialled twice since an 11-week let-up following her victory in the group 1 Kingsford-Smith Cup at Eagle Farm in June.
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“She’s come back well,” Waller said of Joliestar before the news.
“I think she’s a more mature horse now, and we’ve learned a bit more about her too.
“We don’t need to bustle her to be in positions. That was her downfall this time last year.
“She won first up really well, and then we just asked too much of her second up, and the rest of it were good runs each time.”
She was a $2.25 favourite for the Sheraco Stakes, for fillies and mares, on Wednesday with Zac Lloyd to ride.
