Miss Joelene confirmed her status as one of Queensland’s leading mares with back-to-back victories in the $500,000 TAB Magic Millions The Wave at the Gold Coast.
Trained by Kelly Schweida, Miss Joelene won the feature at the Sunshine Coast in 2025 and returned 12 months later to deliver another dominant display, charging home from the second half of the field.
The win over Encoder and Port Lockroy took Miss Joelene’s career prizemoney beyond $1.4 million, a remarkable return on the $20,000 Schweida paid for her from the Kenmore Lodge draft at the 2022 Gold Coast National Yearling Sale.
Her earnings could climb to $2 million as early as next weekend, with the Group 1-placed mare set to back up in next Saturday’s Queensland Magic Millions Subzero over 2200 metres.
“You always worry when they’re back and then she really got shunted wide on the corner but Ceejay (Graham) knows her well and I’m very proud of her,” Schweida said.
“It was a great run.
“She’ll back up into the Subzero next week.”
The victory was a career highlight for young jockey Ceejay Graham, who has now partnered Miss Joelene for three wins.
“I’m so thankful to Kelly and the owners for sticking with me, I’m sure it would have been very tempting to put a big name on,” Graham said.
“It really means a lot to be given an opportunity like this.
“It was sticky from the draw but we ended up in a lovely position.
“I had to be confident that she was the best horse in the race and that she was.”
Miss Joelene is one of two winners from the stakes-winning More Than Ready (USA) mare Cellargirl, who died prematurely after producing just two live foals.
Her pedigree traces back to fourth dam Tristram Lady, the dam of Champion 3YO Filly Triscay.
Miss Joelene was one of three metropolitan winners on the day for Russian Revolution, who was also represented by Fission at Flemington and Whinchat, who claimed the Benchmark 100 Wyong Town Plate at the standalone Wyong meeting.
Russian Revolution currently has 26 entries for Magic Millions 2026, along with 11 entries apiece for the Inglis Classic and Inglis Premier.
