Latest news with #Joliestar
News.com.au
8 hours ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Trainer Clayton Douglas unlikely to target The Everest with Giga Kick
Giga Kick is unlikely to have a third crack at The Everest this spring with trainer Clayton Douglas preferring to negotiate one hurdle at a time. Giga Kick posted an amazing win in the 2022 edition of The Everest to complete a five-race winning streak to start his career before returning in the autumn of 2023 to win the Group 1 All Aged Stakes and Doomben 10,000. But, surprisingly, Giga Kick hasn't won a race since. An injury derailed his 2023 spring before he went down narrowly to Bella Nipotina in last year's Everest. Giga Kick ran second in the Group 1 Goodwood in Adelaide in May but finished three lengths from classy mare Joliestar at his last run in the Group 1 Kingsford Smith Cup at his last run in June. Douglas said Giga Kick's recovery from his latest Queensland trip delayed his start to the spring. 'He was a bit flat after his last run in Queensland so we haven't got up him at this stage,' Douglas said. 'Therefore, it's more than likely he won't be going to The Everest this year. 'He'll potentially just have a Melbourne spring but you never know. 'He's six now so he's not getting any younger and he hasn't won a race since he was three.' Douglas said Giga Kick hasn't reached the galloping stage but he would ramp up the gelding's work leading up to a possible return in a Group 2 race during the Caulfield Cup carnival. 'There's potentially a race like the Schillaci for him first-up,' Douglas said. 'We're just going to poke along with him. 'He's a star horse but I'd love to see him get back to his best form and winning races. 'The 1100(m) should be good for him first-up.' Douglas hadn't locked in Giga Kick's spring program but noted he had many options for the winner of more than $12.8m over the next three months. 'What he's done is what he's done and he's been a star of the sport but there's so many sprint races around,' Douglas said.
News.com.au
08-06-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Joliestar to bypass Stradbroke Handicap and Tatt's Tiara
Chris Waller confirmed Joliestar won't race again during the Queensland Winter Carnival after the brilliant mare provided the Hall of Fame trainer with a record 19th Group 1 win for the season in the Kingsford Smith Cup at Eagle Farm last Saturday. Joliestar was among the favourites at $11 for next Saturday's Group 1 $3 million Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) and was at top of betting at $2.50 for the Group 1 Tatts Tiara (1400m) on June 28 but Waller said the mare has earned a spell. 'She won't have another run in Queensland, that's it, she's having a holiday and we will start planning for the spring,'' Waller told Sky Racing Radio. Although Waller hasn't locked in Joliestar's spring campaign, it will be tempting to again aim the mare at the $20 million The TAB Everest (1200m) at Royal Randwick on October 18. She finished an unlucky seventh behind Bella Nipotina in the world's richest turf race last year. ' James McDonald is adamant she should have gone close to winning The Everest last year,'' Waller said. 'But I think it is on the short side of her distance range, she is probably better over 1300m or 1400m. 'It is a tricky race, The Everest, it is obviously the race everyone wants to win but you sacrifice a few other Group 1 races along the way. 'We will see how she is the next few days and work out a plan towards the spring.' Joliestar is currently on the fourth line of The Everest betting at $11 behind Hong Kong superstar Ka Ying Rising, who has firmed to $1.80 after he was selected for the slot now owned by the Hong Kong Jockey Club. With three Group 1 races remaining for the season, Waller hopes to enhance his new national record of 19 majors with the Stradbroke and $1 million JJ Atkins (1600m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday. Waller said he rates Hidden Achievement as his stable's 'top seed' for the JJ Atkins. 'Hidden Achievement was beaten last start but we saw enough merit in his run to feel he can go close to winning,'' Waller said. 'Hopefully, we have James (McDonald) aboard which makes a huge difference and is a big help to my team. 'In the Stradbroke, we are just working out if Coleman gets in and we might run Firestorm and Konasana.' At Canterbury on Monday, Waller has runners across seven races including first starter Central Coast in the Drinkwise Plate (1250m) to open the program. Central Coast, a superbly bred colt by sire sensation Wootton Bassett out of triple Group 1 winner Sunlight, was purchased for $1.4 million at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale last year. With his big pedigree and impressive recent barrier trial form, it is not surprising Central Coast is the $2.40 TAB Fixed Odds favourite to make a winning debut. McDonald, who rode his 15th Group 1 winner for the season on Joliestar and is closing in on 'Miracle' Mal Johnston's all-time record of 16 majors set in 1979-80, is on Central Coast and also partners Waller-trained favourites Gatekeeper ($4.60) in the TAB Handicap (1250m) and Pink Shalala ($2.50) in the closer, the Asahi Super Dry Handicap (1550m). McDonald has seven rides on the eight-race Canterbury program including for the Godolphin stable on promising filly Blue Willow, the $3.50 favourite for the Ranvet Handicap (1550m). The James Cummings -trained Blue Willow is a half-sister to former Horse of the Year Anamoe, who McDonald rode in eight of the champion's nine Group 1 wins. Blue Willow makes her city debut at Canterbury after three starts at Newcastle for two minor placings before a dominant maiden win in very heavy going two weeks ago.
The Australian
07-06-2025
- Sport
- The Australian
Joliestar storms home in Kingsford Smith Cup to deny local fairtyale
The legend of Chris Waller went to a new level as the champion trainer combined with James McDonald to narrowly deny an extraordinary Queensland fairytale at Eagle Farm. Joliestar snatched victory from the jaws of almost certain defeat in the Kingsford Smith Cup to mow down Tony Gollan's Queensland bolter Zarastro and deny jockey Angela Jones her maiden Group 1. It gave Waller his 19th Group 1 of the season, breaking his previous record for the most Group 1 winners in a season in Australia. It was also the first time a female horse had won the Kingsford Smith since Sea Siren saluted in 2012 and Black Caviar a year earlier. • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! But this was a race that was about far more than raw statistics. Just about everyone seemed to have it pegged as a clash between Newmarket Handicap champion Joliestar and Giga Kick, the former The Everest champion. But no-one told young Queensland jockey Jones, riding in just her third Group 1 race and only partnering Gollan-trained Zarastro because the race had been rescheduled from the washout a week earlier. • What the jockeys said: 2025 Kingsford Smith Cup Zarastro, having his first lash at a Group 1, fought like a caged tiger to head off a challenge from Golden Mile and he looked to be heading for an incredible triumph. Then came Joliestar from so far back that even McDonald thought it was a near impossibility, snatching an incredible last gasp win. Joliestar will almost certainly not contest next Saturday's Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap, with owner Brendan Lindsay saying it's not on the cards. Sights will be set on a revenge mission in this year's The Everest after the Joliestar team felt the mare raced without any luck last year. Waller felt that what ended up being the winning move was McDonald getting Joliestar across ahead of Giga Kick in the early stages. But, watching the race, Waller still felt it was a tall order to be able to run down the leaders. • Dale ponders shot at Stradbroke with Front Page 'It's been hard to run the leaders down today but we discussed things pre-race and we couldn't change our racing pattern,' Waller said. 'James went straight across from the barriers and got in front of Giga Kick and one or two others and that was what probably won him the race. 'Joliestar was off the bridle at the 500(m) but her class got her home. 'We missed out on (winning) The Everest last year, so we would like to have another crack this year.' McDonald described Joliestar as a 'big rocket.' 'She wasn't entitled to win, but that's how good she is,' he said. 'When I looked up at the 600 (m) I thought I was OK. 'Then I got on my bike but as soon as I did that, the pace quickened and the margin went from five lengths turning for home to seven lengths. 'It just didn't feel like I was making ground. 'I was lucky I was on a proper horse, even though she didn't like the ground at Eagle Farm today.' Joliestar returns to scale. Picture: Trackside Photography • Sunrays ends stellar campaign as trainer resists Group 1 lure There has rarely been a happier second-placed finisher in a Group 1 than Gollan who was proud as punch of Zarastro which started as a $17 chance. 'He ran the race of his life, he was so tough,' Gollan said. 'He was beaten three times down the straight, but he kept putting his head out. 'I couldn't have been prouder of the horse, he hasn't raced in many weeks due to track conditions and things like that. 'Then to go down to such a good, strong race like that and race that well, I'm so happy. 'I knew we got beat on the line but it took a multiple Group 1 winner to beat him. 'I'm very proud of my horse and I'm very proud of Angela.' Giga Kick battled away but could only manage sixth while potential Stradbroke Handicap contender Rise At Dawn was fifth. The connections of Giga Kick said it was one of the few times in his career that he has produced a disappointing run.
News.com.au
07-06-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Post-race jockey reports from the 2025 Kingsford Smith Cup
Champion jockey James McDonald timed his run to perfection aboard Joliestar in the $1 million Group 1 Kingsford Smith Cup (1300m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday. The Chris Waller-trained mare came from well back in the field to claim the weight-for-age feature in the final stride. Joliestar defeated Zarastro by a nose with a similar margin back to Golden Mile in third. An EPIC finish in the G1 Kingsford Smith Cup sees Joliestar nab them right on the line to take her third Group 1! 🤩 @cwallerracing @mcacajamez @BrisRacingClub @RaceQLD — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 7, 2025 The win was Joliestar's sixth from 15 starts, her third at Group 1 level, and took her earnings to more than $4.5 million. Waller indicated he would discuss Joliestar's immediate with her owners but while holding a nomination for next week's Stradbroke Handicap, the likelihood is the four-year-old will head to the paddock to begin her preparation for the $20 million The Everest in October. This is what the riders thought of their mount's performance in the Kingsford Smith Cup. â– â– â– â– â– 1st - JOLIESTAR (James McDonald) She wasn't entitled to win, but that's how good she is. When I looked up at the 600m I thought I was OK, then I got on my bike but as soon as I did that, the pace quickened and the margin went from five lengths turning for home to seven lengths. It just didn't feel like I was making ground. I was lucky I was on a proper horse, even though she didn't like the ground at Eagle Farm today. 2nd - ZARASTRO (Angela Jones) So gutsy. He was all the way there, he was there to the last stride. Very proud. 3rd - GOLDEN MILE (Jason Collett) Good performance. Positioned himself well from the gate and still there at the finish. Happy. 4th - KIMOCHI (Craig Williams) She was really good and solid. Gave me a lovely ride throughout, the leaders got a break and we had to chase them down and she stuck to the task really well. 5th - RISE AT DAWN (Ethan Brown) He found them a bit sharp off the bridle but he ran really well. He blew out a bit late but up in trip is going to suit him and I think he's come up really well this prep. 6th - GIGA KICK (Mark Zahra) Joliestar had a bit more tactical speed than us early so I came back and followed her. We gave them a big start but I probably would have liked him to finish off a bit better, like the winner. 7th - BENEDETTA (Tim Clark) She had a good run, it worked out beautifully. Just felt she lost a bit of confidence around the bend on that shifty ground and she has done a bit of racing this preparation so she may have just come to the end of it. 8th - LIBERTAD (Jamie Mott) A little bit below his best today. He had a perfect run but just found he wasn't at his best. 9th - PAYLINE (Tommy Berry) He gave himself a real good whack out of the gates and never felt great after that.
The Australian
07-06-2025
- Sport
- The Australian
2025 Kingsford Smith Cup result and replay
Champion jockey James McDonald timed his run to perfection aboard Joliestar in the $1 million Group 1 Kingsford Smith Cup (1300m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday. The Chris Waller-trained mare came from well back in the field to claim the weight-for-age feature in the final stride. Joliestar defeated Zarastro by a nose with a similar margin back to Golden Mile in third. The win was Joliestar's sixth from 15 starts, her third at Group 1 level, and took her earnings to more than $4.5 million. Waller indicated he would discuss Joliestar's immediate with her owners but while holding a nomination for next week's Stradbroke Handicap, the likelihood is the four-year-old will head to the paddock to begin her preparation for the $20 million The Everest in October.
