Joliestar turned a “mini-Everest” into her own audition, unleashing a booming first-up sprint to capture the Group 2 The Shorts (1100m) and stamp herself a key player for October.
Parked off a strong speed against fellow slot holders, the Chris Waller-trained mare travelled wide without cover before James McDonald clicked her up at the 250m; she surged past Private Harry and held Briasa late in a statement return.
The victory arrived a week after connections locked in the Chris Waller Racing slot for The Everest (1200m), a decision that now looks prescient.
Saturday’s win sharpened a looming clash with Hong Kong star Ka Ying Rising, with the Australian press declaring the $20 million sprint anything but a one-horse race after Joliestar’s return.
McDonald’s steer mixed patience with purpose: keep her balanced three wide, avoid traffic, and expose her late turn of foot.
The mare did the rest, reaffirming her Randwick penchant and building on a stellar 2025 that already includes Group 1 successes.
For Waller, the box ticked was fitness under race pressure; for horse racing bookmakers, it was enough to tighten her Everest price and reframe the pecking order among the local sprinters.
The form lines only add polish.
The Shorts brought together multiple Everest slot holders and high-class scalpers; Joliestar beat them on merit despite the wide run and lack of cover, a profile that reads perfectly for 1200m at Randwick.
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