Joliestar and JMac too good in G1 Thousand Guineas
Chris Waller and James Mcdonald continued their successful association in Melbourne from Flemington to Caulfield as Joliestar stamped herself as a filly of the future with her win in the Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m).
A third victory for Waller in the race and a second for McDonald, the pair have now combined for 32 wins at the highest level.
Specifically targets, the stable plan came off as the newly positioned fillies classic played into the hands Waller’s team in the lead-up and for McDonald in the run.
“For a three-year-old filly it’s a pretty long-range plan,” Waller said.
“She’s still only starting her career, but we did identify that she had ability right from the start.”
Winning the Thousand Guineas at her fifth start, the filly by star sire Zoustar notched her second win and adding to two other black type placings.
“The progression of good horses is a lot easiest than average horses, it’s a simple as that,” Waller added.
“She’s done it herself. I’ve found the races, she’s turned up.
“Steven Arnold does a lot of work for us and came and rode her on Tuesday morning and said she got around here well and said she was on the way up.”
Starting from barrier one, Joliestar ($4.60) won by 1-1/2 lengths over the Gary Portelli-trained Kimochi ($9.50) with $4.20 second favourite with bookmakers Skybird a further length away in third.
“(The barrier) was pivotal today,” McDonald said.
“Especially on the circle track has been playing a little bit up and in that a few of the leaders have had, so we were grinning ear to ear walking out.”
“She’s had a feeling about her that her whole preparation that she has kept improving and improving but she hasn’t been winning.
“She hasn’t had a lot of luck so I thought today from barrier one she was going to get every chance.
“I wish the Melbourne Cup was that easy.”
Race favourite Couer Volante ($3.80) finished fourth with jockey Blake Shinn suggesting that the filly didn’t have the strength, at this stage, to see out the mile trip.
More Racing News
Ingham triumph puts Yorkshire in 2026 Doncaster Mile mix
Tom Charlton may have been only five years old when John O’Shea secured the 2000 Villiers Stakes, but on Saturday the duo jointly celebrated Yorkshire’s commanding victory in the modern equivalent, The Ingham (1600m), at Randwick. The triumph delivered O’Shea a fourth win in the prestigious race and marked Charlton’s first...
Warnie flies late to win The Supernova 2025
With a composed ride inspired by Mark Zahra, jockey Thomas Stockdale steered Warnie to a breakthrough victory in the lucrative The Supernova (1400m) at Pakenham. It was a signature moment for Stockdale, who delivered a tactically brilliant performance as the Ciaron Maher-trained runner stormed to victory in Southside Racing’s second slot...
Weeping Woman too good in the 2025 Razor Sharp Handicap
Joe Pride’s team fired on all cylinders on Saturday, with six runners producing two wins, three seconds and a third across three states, including a dominant stable quinella in the Listed Razor Sharp Handicap at Randwick. Weeping Woman ($2.60 fav) finished strongest to overhaul Coal Crusher ($6), only 35 minutes after...
Taramansour provides locals with a win in the Pakenham Cup 2025
Taramansour produced a remarkable form reversal to hand Phillip Stokes his first victory in the Pakenham Cup, delivering an emotional local triumph. Stokes, who splits his time between his Morphettville operation and his Pakenham base, has had the Cup on his radar since establishing himself at the training centre in 2019. On...
Bargain buy Where’s The Circus dominates 2025 Inglis Nursery
Jean Van Overmeire made the right call in giving up a full provincial book at Newcastle to focus on a single Randwick mount, with Where’s The Circus landing a stunning upset in the Inglis Nursery. The filly, picked up online for just $1250, had impressed Van Overmeire when winning a recent...
Kris Lees sets sights on another summer strike
Kris Lees has frequently struck during Sydney’s summer feature program, and he will again field a strong hand across Randwick’s stakes races on Saturday. Lees’ achievements over the past decade include victories in The Ingham with Loch Eagle and Sense Of Occasion, as well as Razor Sharp Handicap wins with Special...
2025 Pakenham Cup: Browne’s roll the dice one more time
Emma-Lee and David Browne will “roll the dice” one more time with Statuario as they search for a fairytale hometown victory in the Listed Pakenham Cup (2500m). The Kiwi trainers shifted to Victoria in 2022 and settled into Pakenham last season, where a local Cup triumph would be particularly meaningful —...
Yorkshire out to make a summer statement in 2025 The Ingham
John O’Shea’s first major breakthrough as a solo trainer came 25 years ago when Grey And Gold captured the Villiers Stakes. He added another victory with On A High and later won the race again in its rebranded form as The Ingham (1600m) in 2022 with Kirwin’s Lane. Now a decorated horseman...
Fox on the hunt of 2025 The Supernova win
Emma-Lee and David Browne will “roll the dice” one more time with Statuario as they search for a fairytale hometown victory in the Listed Pakenham Cup (2500m). The Kiwi trainers shifted to Victoria in 2022 and settled into Pakenham last season, where a local Cup triumph would be particularly meaningful —...
Choice weather forecast for Litt duo in the 2025 Razor Sharp Handicap
Trainer Richard Litt is hoping Sydney’s pending wet weather plays directly into the hands of his runners Barber and Romeo’s Choice when they contest the Razor Sharp Handicap at Randwick. Both horses are expected to appreciate any give in the track, and Litt believes soft conditions could elevate Romeo’s Choice in...