Waller fills final gap in Sydney Group 1 triumphs with Canterbury Stakes dominance
Acclaimed Hall of Fame conditioner Chris Waller secured the last remaining Sydney Group 1 missing from his resume, as elite rider James McDonald extended his brilliant run with another stakes score at Royal Randwick this Saturday.
It represented Waller's 188th Group 1 conquest in his career, yet incredibly his debut victory in the Canterbury Stakes.
To cap it off, Waller dominated the Canterbury Stakes trifecta as Joliestar collared Beiwacht late, leaving Lady Shenandoah to settle for third after some tough luck.
"There's still a few Group 1 races we haven't won but it is good to get the set in Sydney,'' Waller said.
"I feel the 1300m is just about the perfect trip for Joliestar, in 1200m races she needs speed and for them to really roll along but 1300m is her sweet spot.
"She has never been going better and we will aim her at the TJ Smith Stakes next and then all going well we will take her to Royal Ascot.
"Beiwacht was very good and Lady Shenandoah didn't have much luck. They ran really well but I'm not sure where they will go next.''
Joliestar, sent out at $2.25 favourite, received a peach of a steer from McDonald and pounced on the gallant $9 Beiwacht close to home for a half-length decision, while $4.20 Lady Shenandoah was third, beaten barely more than a length while caught wide throughout from barrier wide out.
The jockey was on fire, notching his fifth success of the day in the Group 1 Canterbury Stakes on Joliestar after triumphs earlier with Generosity (Challenge Stakes), Pinito (Aspiration Quality), Beadman (Fireball Stakes) and Chayan (Reisling Stakes).
With Joliestar, McDonald claimed his 127th elite win, 52nd in partnership with Waller.
"I'm lucky to be riding some great horses and working with a fantastic trainer in Chris (Waller),'' McDonald said.
"It's just a lovely working relationship, the horses are performing. They are always turned out immaculate, they are here to win and as long as we get a little bit of luck throughout the race they do the job.
"Chris is a champion and I'm just hanging onto the coat tails really."
The victory was Joliestar's fourth at Group 1 level, lifting her career earnings above $7.1 million.
Her performance books a slot in England for the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (1200m) at Royal Ascot in June.
McDonald viewed this as prime timing to ship the near-six-year-old Joliestar internationally.
"She is in the best form of her career because she is so tractable now,'' McDonald said.
"When I peeled out I thought 'it's her time to shine', she's had everything go her way.
"She was running down a really good colt and she's a top horse herself, so take nothing away from the second horse, Beiwacht, he was really great.''
Waller lauded McDonald's impeccable ride that nailed the finish perfectly for Joliestar.
"It was a beautiful ride. She had a nice draw, so everything set up well,'' Waller said.
"She's just come back really well, she's a more mature horse. She knows her job and just does it well."
The handler noted early planning for Joliestar's Royal Ascot raid, hoping to mirror Nature Strip's results from four years back.
"We know the date she's leaving and everything like that so that's how far we've gone into the program,'' he said.
"Every race you've got to come back safe and do the little things right and keep her good form. But one more run, that's the TJ Smith Stakes back to 1200m and then on the plane.
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