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| Staff Writer |
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Chris Waller is taking a cautious approach with Joliestar as he plots a potential path to the US$11.5 million The Everest, mindful of past errors with another talented mare.
The champion trainer is keen to avoid repeating the mistakes made with Zougotcha last season, when an ill-fated sprint campaign derailed her spring.
Joliestar, a Gr.1 winner over a mile as a three-year-old, is set to kick off her campaign in Saturday's Show County Quality over 1200m at Randwick. This marks a slight deviation from Zougotcha's route last year, which began over the shorter 1100m trip of the Toy Show Quality.
Waller, reflecting on the similarities between the two mares, said: "It's interesting, I thought exactly the same with Zougotcha last year. But hence the reason I don't want to start her over the 1100-metre distance.
"We did with Zougotcha, she started in the Toy Show the same day, so I'm not going 1100 with Joliestar. I want to go 1200. She is like Zougotcha, she's got that Zoustar speed, but I don't want to waste it."
Despite drawing barrier 11, Joliestar will have the services of leading jockey James McDonald. The combination proved successful in the autumn when scoring an impressive first-up victory in the Arrowfield 3YO Stakes over the same course and distance.
While The Everest remains a tantalising target, Waller is keeping his options open for the talented mare.
"We've still got her in that Everest consideration, and she was very good in the Arrowfield," he explained. "To win an Everest, you'd want to be pretty impressive over 1200 first-up and then you've got to find a way to keep the speed in her legs.
"I'd say she has got a twenty per cent chance of getting to the Everest. There are so many other options we're looking at as important as the Everest."
The trainer estimates Joliestar's chances of making The Everest field at around 20%, emphasising that the US$11.5 million sprint is not the sole focus of her campaign.
Meanwhile, Zougotcha is set to contest the Gr.1 Winx Stakes over 1400m on the same card. The mare boasts an impressive fresh record of three wins from five first-up starts and will be looking to build on her successful autumn campaign, which saw her claim Gr.1 victories in both the Coolmore Classic and Queen Of The Turf Stakes.
Waller's meticulous approach with Joliestar underscores the delicate balance required when preparing top-class gallopers for Australia's richest race. As the spring carnival heats up, all eyes will be on Randwick this Saturday to see if Joliestar can stake her claim for a coveted Everest slot.