Chris Waller: Joliestar is fresh and ready for The Everest

The Everest is just days away. While other horses are putting in the final elements of their prep, Chris Waller says his star mare Joliestar is ready to have a “brilliant” run in Australia’s richest race.

The Group 1-winner has shown in both her two races so far this season. However, she has not raced since 14 September. Waller says this suits Joliestar.

The Everest is at 4:15 PM on Saturday, 19 October at Randwick Racecourse.

Joliestar fresh and ready

Joliestar started her 2024/25 campaign with a big win in the Group 3 Show County Quality at Randwick on 24 August. The mare followed up that stellar performance with a third-place finish in the Group 2 Sheraco Stakes at Rosehill on 14 September.

The Group 1 winner has not raced since her start in the Sheraco Stakes. According to trainer Chris Waller, this was by design.

“Joliestar is brilliant fresh,” Waller said, explaining the mare’s five-week break from competitive racing.

“We’ve seen that in the autumn, she beat the best three-year-olds fresh-up (in the Group 2 Arrowfield Sprint at Randwick). She’s won fresh up before and this preparation she was brilliant fresh after her spell.

“We’ve gone back to that theory with the five weeks between runs. Brendan and Jo Lindsay from Cambridge Stud in New Zealand have been very supportive of allowing us to do this, accepting the slot in The Everest.

“We thought going into the race fresh would give her the best chance.”

Barrier draw helps Joliestar

Before the barrier draw, Waller was positive on Joliestar’s Everest chances. After the mare was assigned barrier four, the veteran trainer is very confident about her odds of winning.

“Having her comfortable in the first half of the race will ensure that she’s ready to launch over the concluding stages,” Waller said, commenting on her barrier placement.

Jockey James Mcdonald is also confident about Joliestar’s chances of adding another Group 1 win to her name.

“If we get a nice run in the race she’s pretty explosive,” the jockey said.

“And she’s trained up beautifully. I wouldn’t swap her for anything, put it that way, and I just need a bit of luck,” Mcdonald added.

The Everest betting preview

Waller and Mcdonald are not the only ones confident about Joliestar’s chances. The horse racing betting world is also sold on the mare being a contender.

The betting sites currently have Joliestar as The Everest co-favourite with I Wish I Win at $6.

James Cummings’ colt Traffic Warden is next at $7.50, followed by Growing Empire ($8), Bella Nipotina ($9), and Sunshine In Paris ($9.50).