Zoustar five year-old Joliestar has always been a top class mare, but in 2026 has soared to new heights reeling off three successive wins over the Sydney Autumn Carnival culminating in her memorable victory in the $3million Group I ATC TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday.
Prepared by Chris Waller, Joliestar won the Group II ATC Expressway Stakes first up from a spell beating subsequent Group I VRC Newmarket Handicap winner Caballus and then last start beat her stablemate Beiwacht in the Group I ATC Canterbury Stakes.
Sent off favourite on Saturday with James McDonald to ride, Joliestar enjoyed a great run just behind the leaders and when asked for top gear she surged clear with a furlong to run.
Joliestar was too strong for Giga Kick, who gave a brave challenge, but was beaten half a length with Group I winning mare Skybird in third place.
Joliestar is in career best form as she seeks to take on Europe’s best sprinters at Royal Ascot in June.
“That is the difference between her this year compared to last year,” said Chris Waller.
“Last year she could pull out a belter but wide draws and luck in running could get her beaten, too, but she is a more complete racehorse now.
“I would go to Royal Ascot and bring her back for The Everest – she has just started to mature as a racehorse.
“I think we will probably go for the Jubilee Stakes (G1 6f) at Royal Ascot. We had the trip planned well before today but we wanted to see her run well in the TJ to cement her place for England.
“As a three-year-old she won the Guineas and has been a model of consistency since.’’
“She’ll have a little bit of down time now and then work our way back from Royal Ascot. We’ll do our usual jump-outs and trials and get her on the plane.
“She goes so well fresh and no doubt will represent Australia very well on the grand stage.”
James McDonald has ridden Joliestar in seven of her ten wins.
“She has had her doubters before, but they have no leg to stand on now, she is a Grand Final winner,” said McDonald.
“I just let her gallop, I’ve learned not to organise her too much, even though I would have preferred to be on the outside, I wasn’t too deterred by the inside because I had room.
“It’s (Royal Ascot) very exciting and no doubt she’ll be a force to be reckoned with.”
A $950,000 Inglis Easter purchase for Cambridge Stud’s Sir Brendan and Lady Jo Lindsay from the Segenhoe Thoroughbreds draft, Joliestar has the impressive record of 10 wins and seven placings from 201 starts with prizemoney topping $8.8million.
Bred by Chris and Jane Barham, Joliestar is a half-sister to stakes-placed God Of Thunder and Emperor and is the best of six winners from top-class Fastnet Rock mare Jolie Bay.
The Group II ATC Roman Consul Stakes winner and runner-up in the Group I VRC Coolmore Stud Stakes, Jolie Bay, is a sister to dual Group I winner Merchant Navy, Listed winner Setanta, and stakes-placed Zara Bay, the dam of Group II winner Airman.
Jolie Bay has a yearling filly by Anamoe that was sold by Segenhoe Stud at Magic Millions for $470,000 to Cambridge Stud, which looks like a comparative bargain.
Jolie Bay produced a colt by Zoustar last spring that is a full brother to Joliestar and she was then covered by Too Darn Hot (GB).
With five G1 wins and over $8.8million, Joliestar is the highest stake earner for champion sire Zoustar.
