Chris Waller identifies surprise star for potential Everest run

The 2023/24 horse racing season is coming to an end. Now, trainers are starting to look ahead to the next season and the big spring races. One of the biggest of these showcase events is The Everest at Randwick Racecourse.  
 
The $20 million 1200m race is Australia’s most expensive race and one of the richest races in the world. All the best horses from Australia are expected to run.  
 
Trainer Chris Waller thinks his filly, Joliestar,  could be one of the 12 runners in the race this October at Randwick.  

Joliestar to build on strong season 

Joliestar has emerged as one of the best young sprinters from this racing season. She placed in all six of her non-trial starts this season, but is relatively untested in Group 1 races.  
 
The daughter of Zoustar and Jolie Bay ran in just one Group 1 race this season. However, she ran brilliantly in her sole top-level run 
 
Joliestar won the Schweppes Thousand Guineas (1600m) last November in just her fifth start against three-year-old or older competition.  

Walker talks up young filly 

After her strong 2023/24, trainer Chris Waller said he thinks Joliestar could run in this year’s Everest. 
 
“Of our horses, she could be in the Everest picture,” Waller said.  
 
“We gave her such a soft autumn. She had one run, and we chose not to go to Queensland because it would have interrupted the spring, so we’ve got a horse with plenty of carrots.” 
 
Waller has recently run Joliestar in barrier trials to get ready for the start of the 2024/25 season.  
 
She finished first in an eight-horse trial run at Rosehill on Tuesday alongside fellow contenders for this spring’s big races Via Sistina, Tropical Squall, and Riff Rocket. 

“We made a mistake” last year Waller says 

One of the horses who also ran with Joliestar at Tuesday’s Rosehill barrier trial was her stablemate Zougotcha. When speaking about Joliestar this week, Waller revealed that he made a mistake with Zougotcha last year.  
 
The experienced trainer put Zougotcha in the running for the Everest. The mare ending up not having what it takes to run in such a big race and did not compete.  
 
“We made the mistake with Zougotcha last year of trying to make her sprint,” Waller admitted. 
 
However, Waller is confident that Joliestar is different.  
 
“I think Joliestar is probably a little bit sharper,” he said, “We might give her a chance to sprint and decide after that first-up run which way we’re heading.” 
 
Right now, the betting sites have Joliestar as a major outsider for The Everest with $26 betting odds. If Waller is right though, Joliestar should be a name all horse racing betting fans should have an eye on before the big race.