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Joliestar’s Everest hopes hinge on The Shorts
Joshua Smith, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk • September 17th, 2026 4:52 pm
Joliestar will contest the Gr.2 The Shorts (1100m) at Randwick on Saturday. Photo: Bradleyphotos.com.au
A lot hinges on Joliestar’s performance in the Gr.2 The Shorts (1100m) at Randwick on Saturday.
The Cambridge Stud mare could have her third tilt at the A$20 million Gr.1 The Everest (1200m) next month if she performs up to expectations, however, the spelling paddock is beckoning if she doesn’t.
The six-year-old daughter of Zoustar has had a busy 12 months since her last appearance in the world’s richest turf race, where she finished fifth to New Zealand-bred sprinter Ka Ying Rising.
She has added two further elite-level victories to her record in that time, including the Gr.1 Canterbury Stakes (1300m) and Gr.1 TJ Smith Stakes (1200m), and travelled to the other side of the world where she ran third in the Gr.1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (1200m) at Royal Ascot in June.
It has been a quick turnaround, with Joliestar having to undergo quarantine in both England and Australia before returning to trainer Chris Waller’s Sydney barn in early August, and she has had two trials to ready for her resuming run this weekend.
Cambridge Stud chief executive Henry Plumptre said Joliestar faced an arduous and lengthy trip to and from Europe, and Saturday will provide a clearer picture of her current state.
“We are slightly swinging in the dark with her at the moment because I don’t think any of us knows how much the trip has affected her,” he said.
“The trip this year was hampered by the fact that freight planes were not going through the Middle East to refuel, so she was 41 hours in the plane going up to Ascot and she was 32 hours coming home. Normally, that trip takes between 26 and 28 hours, so it had quite an impact on her.
“On the surface, she looks well, she has worked well, and Chris (Waller, trainer) is happy to go to the races with her.
“I think it is a good option to run her in a Group Two first-up and see how she goes.”
The Everest is the obvious aim for Joliestar this spring, however, Plumptre said Hong Kong star Ka Ying Rising presents a daunting challenge, and the Sir Brendan and Lady Jo Lindsay-owned mare will need to be at her peak to be competitive.
“It is a difficult race to win, you have got to have tactical speed.,” he said. “The thing about the Hong Kong horse (Ka Ying Rising) is that he has got extraordinary tactical speed at the beginning of a race and at the end of a race, but the key to him is that within 200 yards from the barriers he is in a position to be wherever he wants to be in the field. That turn of foot is pretty rare.
“On exposed form, we can only run second, but you should never plan your race programme around one horse.
“If she runs really well on Saturday, and she would nearly have to win, and win well, we will push on and she will probably run in The Everest.
“If she doesn’t go to The Everest, it will mean she hasn’t run that well on Saturday, and she will be going to the paddock. I am mindful of the fact that since November last year she hasn’t had a long break. She had five weeks after the Champions Sprint (Gr.1, 1200m) last year and she had a couple of weeks after the TJ (Smith), but she hasn’t had what I would say a decent spell for a long time, and at some stage she is going to be wanting it.”
While a six-year-old, Cambridge Stud have resisted the urge to retire Joliestar to the broodmare paddock for now and are intent on giving her one more season of racing before she retires to the renowned Cambridge thoroughbred nursery next year.
“They are in the breeding barn for a long time and touch wood she is sound at the moment, and she is very clean-winded,” Plumptre said. “While she is well and is in Group One form, we thought we might as well give her another year. She will definitely retire next year.”
Meanwhile, back in New Zealand, the Cambridge Stud team are excited by the spring prospects of Group One performer Liguria, who has finished runner-up in her two trials this preparation, including at Ellerslie on Tuesday.
The Lance Noble-trained filly is on a path towards the Gr.1 Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton in November and will kick off her campaign in next Saturday’s Gr.3 HBPB Thoroughbred Breeders’ Gold Trail Stakes (1200m) at Hastings.
“She has come back in good order and she had a good blow after the trial the other day, which is a good sign. There is still a bit of fitness to come there,” Plumptre said.
Plumptre said fellow three-year-old filly Showgirl, who won her 1100m trial at Ellerslie, is one to keep an eye on, particularly over summer.
“We trialled a very nice Darci Brahma filly, who is unraced, at the same set of trials,” he said. “We think a lot of her, but she probably won’t be ready in time to go south. She will be worth looking for around Christmas time, she is a really nice filly.”
