Joliestar ready to defend Aussie honour in The Golden Eagle

Chris Waller denied a top Japanese galloper in last Saturday’s Cox Plate and he will look to bring down another of its stars this weekend.

The champion trainer has Joliestar heading towards the $10 million Golden Eagle (1500m) at Rosehill.

The Group 1-winning daughter of Zoustar is the considered the best local hope in a race that also includes Japanese Group 1 winner Ascoli Piceno and unbeaten French gelding Lazzat.

Ascoli Piceno is looking to give Japan back-to-back Golden Eagle wins after last year’s win to Obamburumai and will have the services of Joao Moreira, who has warned Waller of what he is up against, but the master trainer is up for the challenge.

“I’ve spoken to Joao about him and Joao said he’s very good,” Waller said.

“We saw last year how good the Japanese horses are and that’s the beauty of international racing; you get to bring formlines together.

“It’s so important for Australia, because it’s hard for us in Australia. We’ve got so much money here in Australia we don’t need to travel, so when we get a few horses come here we need to bring our A-game.”

Waller packed Via Sistina’s A-game last Saturday at Moonee Valley, where the imported mare thrashed Japan’s Prognosis by eight lengths in a track-record win in the Cox Plate.

Joliestar will be having her fourth run of the campaign in the Golden Rose.

She resumed with a stunning win in the Group 3 Show County Quality (1200m), was then beaten as favourite in the Group 2 Sheraco Stakes (1200m) before a seventh placing in 1200m The Everest, when she was caught in traffic but flashed late to only be beaten 1-1/2 lengths.

“Joliestar has come through her unlucky run in The Everest well, she’s bright and well and 1500 metres will be no problem,” he said.

“It’s a big race and I’d just like to see her draw well and I’d be very confident she can bounce back.”

The Golden Eagle barrier draw will take place in Sydney on Tuesday.