Chris Waller isn’t reading too much into Joliestar’s defeat as favourite in the T J Smith Stakes, adamant the mare is going well enough to make amends at Randwick.
Joliestar finished ninth, beaten two lengths by Saturday’s All Aged Stakes (1400m) rival Briasa, after jockey Damian Lane was left with little option but to make his run up the fence in the straight.
Combined with a moderate tempo, Waller said it made Joliestar’s task difficult.
“Damian had nowhere to go and he had to go up the fence,” Waller said.
“There was no pressure in the race. He couldn’t push out. He had to go where no other horse had been on the day and it was slower there.”
Prior to that, Joliestar was a brilliant winner of the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington and two of her five wins have been at Randwick.
With Lane suspended, Zac Lloyd takes over the reins and should be able to give Joliestar plenty of galloping room from a midfield draw.
“Barrier nine probably suits her, we won’t get the same excuse,” Waller said.
“I think 1400 metres is probably the right distance for her too.
“I’m not panicked. She is good enough to win. She just needs a little bit of luck on race day.”
Waller will also saddle up Osipenko in the All Aged Stakes in what will be his first start since taking out the January Cup (2000m).
He generally improves into a campaign as he steps up in trip and Waller views Saturday as a nice starting point.
“He’s a neat old horse. He is getting ready for the Hollindale (Stakes).”
