Fresh from victory in the TJ Smith Stakes at The Championships, the five-time Group 1 winner Joliestar heads a team of top-line Australian sprinters for Royal Ascot.
In also winning the sprinters Newmarket Handicap at Flemington last season, it was Hall of Fame trainer Chris Waller who targeted the TJ Smith as a spring-board for Royal Ascot.
In fact, she follows fellow Australian’s Takeover Target, Miss Andretti, Scenic Blast and Black Caviar who all won the Newmarket Handicap prior to claiming Royal Ascot success.
Chris Waller also had Nature Strip win the TJ Smith Stakes as a lead-up to take-out the King Charles III Stakes in 2022, with winning jockey James McDonald also again on Joliestar.
Also looking for a second Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes with Joliestar is owners Cambridge Stud, who had Hello Youmzain win in 2022 in partnership with Haras d’Etreham.
“Joliestar returned to Chris Waller following a week of paddock rest, then a week of cantering up hill before finishing with a half-pace gallop,” said Henry Plumptre of Cambridge Stud.
“She remains in Sydney until 20 May, then transfer to Melbourne for the UK on 3 June. In Melbourne Chris will have a five-furlong trial up the Flemington straight before she departs.”
“While she won the Thousand Guineas over a mile, she’s her best is six or seven furlongs, and while her current preparation in Sydney is her best form she is in great order for Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes.”
“It is always a challenge to fly a horse halfway around the world for a race, and we are hoping all goes well and she arrives safely at Charlie Hills’ yard in Lambourn on the 4 June.”
Looking to take-on a host of international stars in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes, Joliestar will be meeting last year’s one-two Lazzat, Jerome Reynier and Satono Reve, Noriyuki Hori.
Satono Reve scored a second successive win in the Takamatsunomiya Kinen at Chukyo in March, having chased home Ka Ying Rising in the Chairman’s Sprint Prize at Sha Tin on Sunday.
The 7yo Satono Reve is joined in the Queen Elizabeth II by the Haruki Sugiyama-trained Lugal, who won the Sprinters Stakes in 2024 and is a last-start second in the Meydan Al Quoz Sprint.
Now with horses based in Britain, Victorian trainer Henry Dwyer has his 2024 King Charles III Stakes heroine Asfoora looking for a repeat victory, and Australia’s ninth Royal Ascot success.
In finishing fifth last year, and winning the Nunthorpe Stakes at York and Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp, she has wintered in Newmarket with another European campaign in mind.
Also entered from Australia is the 2024 Golden Slipper winner Lady Of Camelot, trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, who was narrowly defeated in two Group 1’s in March.
“Lady Of Camelot had an exhibition gallop at Randwick on Saturday,” said Gai Waterhouse. “She has since travelled to Queensland to resume in the Victory Stakes over 1,200 metres at Eagle Farm on 2 May.”
“Her performance there, and in her second-up run, will dictate whether or not she heads overseas,” as this is the comeback run for the daughter of Written Tycoon.
The Australian challenge also features Joliestar’s stablemate Generosity, who won the Challenge Stakes at Randwick in March, while Warwick Farm based Bjorn Baker has his dual Group 1 $12m stakes winer Overpass also entered.
