Chris Waller and James Mcdonald continued their successful association in Melbourne from Flemington to Caulfield as Joliestar stamped herself as a filly of the future with her win in the Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m).
A third victory for Waller in the race and a second for McDonald, the pair have now combined for 32 wins at the highest level.
Specifically targets, the stable plan came off as the newly positioned fillies classic played into the hands Waller’s team in the lead-up and for McDonald in the run.
“For a three-year-old filly it’s a pretty long-range plan,” Waller said.
“She’s still only starting her career, but we did identify that she had ability right from the start.”
Winning the Thousand Guineas at her fifth start, the filly by star sire Zoustar notched her second win and adding to two other black type placings.
“The progression of good horses is a lot easiest than average horses, it’s a simple as that,” Waller added.
“She’s done it herself. I’ve found the races, she’s turned up.
“Steven Arnold does a lot of work for us and came and rode her on Tuesday morning and said she got around here well and said she was on the way up.”
Starting from barrier one, Joliestar ($4.60) won by 1-1/2 lengths over the Gary Portelli-trained Kimochi ($9.50) with $4.20 second favourite with bookmakers Skybird a further length away in third.
“(The barrier) was pivotal today,” McDonald said.
“Especially on the circle track has been playing a little bit up and in that a few of the leaders have had, so we were grinning ear to ear walking out.”
“She’s had a feeling about her that her whole preparation that she has kept improving and improving but she hasn’t been winning.
“She hasn’t had a lot of luck so I thought today from barrier one she was going to get every chance.
“I wish the Melbourne Cup was that easy.”
Race favourite Couer Volante ($3.80) finished fourth with jockey Blake Shinn suggesting that the filly didn’t have the strength, at this stage, to see out the mile trip.
