Racing
Joliestar set to take on the world after TJ Smith win
Hall of Fame trainer Chris Waller maintains Joliestar is a “more complete racehorse” and now is the right time to take on the world at Royal Ascot.
Waller made this declaration after Joliestar claimed the fifth Group 1 win of her career with a typically tough effort in the $3 million TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
This was Joliestar at her very best, fighting off a determined Giga Kick to complete an unbeaten three-start Sydney autumn campaign that also included the Group 2 Expressway Stakes and Group 1 Canterbury Stakes.
"Joliestar just showed the difference between her this year compared to last year,'' Waller said.
"Last year she could pull out a belter of a run but wide draws and luck in running could get her beaten, too.
"But she is a more complete racehorse now and is at the very peak of her form.''
Joliestar ($3.90 favourite) gave Waller and champion jockey James Mcdonald successive Group 1 wins when she held off Giga Kick ($4.60) to win by a half length with Skybird ($41) a neck away third.
Waller has now trained 15 Group 1 winners for 2025-26 and took his stable earnings to $61.06 million – a new national record and there is still nearly four months of the season remaining.
The Hall of Fame trainer, who also won with Campione D'Italia in the Group 1 Champagne Stakes, has now prepared 195 career Group 1 winners and is closing in on the magical 200 Group 1-win barrier that has been achieved only by Tommy Smith and Bart Cummings, who both ended their careers on 246 majors.
Joliestar gave Waller and McDonald their fourth win in the TJ Smith Stakes after their three-peat with Nature Strip in 2020-21-22.
Nature Strip came off his third TJ Smith to win at Royal Ascot and McDonald will be keen to chase more international success with Joliestar in June.
"The dream of Royal Ascot is very exciting, and no doubt she'll be a force to be reckoned with,'' McDonald said.
"She has had her doubters before, but they have no leg to stand on now, she is a Grand Final winner.''
McDonald has now ridden 12 (Australian) Group 1 winners for the season, having also won three majors overseas with Hong Kong champion Romantic Warrior.
Waller said he will now set about preparing Joliestar for her Royal Ascot campaign which will be aimed at the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Jubilee Stakes (1200m) on June 20.
"I think we will probably go for the Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot,'' Waller said.
"We had the trip planned well before today but we wanted to see her run well in the TJ to cement her place for England.''
Joliestar was having her 21st start in the TJ Smith Stakes, scoring her 10th win, five at Group 1 level, for prizemoney of more than $8.8 million.
Waller said he hopes the owners of Joliestar will race her on next season.
"I would go to Royal Ascot and bring her back for The Everest – she has just started to mature as a racehorse,'' he said.
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