Cover image courtesy of Sportpix
Race-day recap
Joliestar (Zoustar) was a devastating winner of G2 The Shorts, as a wide run at the back of the field didn't matter as she burst away for an impressive victory in the hands of James McDonald.
Sir Delius (GB) (Frankel {GB}) proved as tough as they come, as he claimed the G1 Underwood Stakes after looking beat under a savvy ride from Craig Williams.
Fangirl (Sebring) left her run late to collect the $1 million 7 Stakes in the last stride, giving James McDonald a feature race double.
Sepals (Calyx {GB}) was an impressive winner of the G1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes at Caulfield, as jockey Craig Williams rode both the Group 1 features.
Joliestar brilliant in 'The Shorts'
In a race that resembled a mini Everest - featuring three slot holders and other hopefuls looking to stake their claim for a spot in the lucrative sprint. It was the proven and consistent Joliestar (Zoustar) who proved too strong for trainer Chris Waller and jockey James McDonald.
The three-time Group 1 winner was forced to settle well back and wide from a tricky barrier as Mazu (Maurice {Jpn}) set a frantic tempo, with boom colt Private Harry (Harry Angel {Ire}) working into second after jumping a little awkwardly, and the big grey Briasa (Smart Missile) tracking him throughout.
McDonald was content to bide his time despite being posted wide, and at the 300 metres, Joliestar loomed ominously as those closer to the speed began to feel the effects of the early pressure. She powered clear to score by just over a length at her first run as a five-year-old mare. Fellow slot holder Briasa lost no admirers with a brave second, while Generosity (Divine Prophet) finished strongly for third. Private Harry faded late into fifth, a shade under three lengths from the winner.
Chris Waller couldn’t hide his delight after the performance.
Joliestar winning the G2 The Shorts | Image courtesy of Sportpix
“I've got a big smile for so many reasons. It's a good starting point, it's a great race. This race is getting bigger and bigger every year. It'll be a Group 1 in no time once the ratings go up. What's the rules? Five years, it'll be a Group 1.
“She was awesome. She's come back well, and she's four weeks out from a very big race.
“She (Joliestar) was awesome. She's come back well, and she's four weeks out from a very big race.” - Chris Waller
“We haven't asked her to do a lot, to be truthful, but I can see a more mature horse now. I've seen the horse trial well, and I've just got an all-around more confident horse, so we were confident.
“But we knew from the draw it was going to be tricky, so our plan was just to come back, find some cover. We didn't get the cover but we didn’t need it.”
When asked about her plans heading towards The Everest, Waller confirmed she would head straight there:
Chris Waller | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
“That's mainly why she didn’t run last week. If we were going five weeks, I would have thought, yeah, she probably needs another run. But today, four weeks, a trial and she'll be ready to go.”
McDonald was very happy with the effort of a mare that means a lot to him
“She's so good, I love her dearly. She's such a thrill to ride and every time she gives her heart out there, she's a line chaser.”
“She's (Joliestar) so good, I love her dearly. She's such a thrill to ride and every time she gives her heart out there, she's a line chaser.” - James McDonald
“She got in a lovely spot, found the fence, saved ground, and got out with enough time.”
When asked if he was always confident of getting Lindermann, he commented
“He fought harder than I thought. Credit to him, he fought when I came up to him. I felt like I was going to have it easier and then he fought, but Fangirl was too strong.”
James McDonald and Joliestar after winning the G2 The Shorts | Image courtesy of Sportpix
Sales Information: Joliestar was purchased for $950,000 by Cambridge Stud from the Segenhoe Thoroughbreds draft at the 2022 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Pedigree Information: Joliestar is the fifth foal out of Jolie Bay (Fastnet Rock), a two-time winner including the G2 Roman Consul Stakes and placed in the G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes. She hails from a strong family, being a full sister to Merchant Navy, a dual Group 1 winner in Australia and at Royal Ascot, and is closely related to other Group winners Legally Bay (Snippets) and Airman (I Am Invincible).
Sir Delius off the canvas to pick up The Underwood
The classy Sir Delius (GB) (Frankel {GB}) scored his first Group 1 in determined style and became his sire Frankel's (GB) 40th elite victor around the world. He lifted late to win the G1 Underwood Stakes at Caulfield after looking beaten 100 metres out.
Settled in fourth, Sir Delius was briefly cluttered rounding the turn, while Blake Shinn made a dashing move at the 600 metres aboard main rival Buckaroo (GB) (Fastnet Rock). Buckaroo swept to the lead and looked the winner, but the long run may have told - or it was simply Sir Delius’s toughness. Craig Williams lifted the Frankel entire to prevail by just under half a length, with Golden Path (NZ) (Belardo {Ire}) brave in third after racing prominently throughout.
Trainer Gai Waterhouse was thrilled.
“I can’t describe how excited I am, I cannot tell you. It’s the most exciting thing I’ve seen in years. He was not in a good a position throughout the race… all of a sudden he saw the winning post and he took off. He was just fabulous.”
Gai Waterhouse after Sir Delius (GB) won the G1 Underwood Stakes | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
On his program, Waterhouse revealed:
“It was Adrian’s program and it was very much around Fiorente, which we won the Melbourne Cup with in 2013. We’ll go to the Might And Power, then the Cox Plate, and then that elusive race on the first Tuesday in November.”
Asked about similarities to Fiorente, she added:
“They are both very similar, both very handsome horses. They have fabulous attitudes, a will to win. They’re a pleasure to ride, they’re big striding horses and just know where the winning post is.”
Sir Delius (GB) winning the G1 Underwood Stakes | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Winning jockey Craig Williams praised the training effort:
“Gai and the stable presented me a really nice horse today. The exciting part is that he’s got so much upside from today.
The discussion we had pre-race was to let him be a really good horse. He gave me a great run from an awkward draw. When the chips were down he had to be tough - and it’s his first time going left-handed.
“I did all his replays in France, even on really firm ground. All his early form when they purchased him was on French soft or heavy. He’s just such a weapon. When Blake came past me (on Buckaroo) I thought, ‘oh no’, but I just kept urging him.
Connections of Sir Delius (GB) after winning the G1 Underwood Stakes | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“I always said he reminded me of Dunaden; he’s got that great tenacity and will to win. He laid back his ears and we got the win today.”
“I always said he (Sir Delius) reminded me of Dunaden; he’s got that great tenacity and will to win. He laid back his ears and we got the win today.” - Craig Williams
Sales Information: Sir Delius was purchased by Go Bloodstock, De Burgh Equine, Waterhouse and Bott Racing and McKeever Bloodstock for 1,300,000 guineas (AU$2.8 million) at the 2024 Tattersall’s Autumn Horses in Training Sale.
Pedigree Information: Sir Delius is out of Whatami (GB) (Daylami {Ire}), who was placed on the track. She has also produced Group 3 winner Nkosikazi (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}) and Juan Elcano (GB) (Frankel {GB}), a Listed winner.
Fangirl flies late to claim the $1 million ‘7 Stakes’
After a meritorious fourth in the G1 Memsie Stakes at Caulfield at her last start, Fangirl (Sebring) relished a return to her Sydney home track and the chance to compete on a good surface she thrives on.
The mare claimed the $1 million 7 Stakes in dramatic fashion, lunging late to collar long-time leader and stablemate Lindermann (Lonhro) in the final stride, with the honest Ceowulf (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) finishing two lengths away in third to complete a Chris Waller-trained trifecta.
Fangirl settled in fifth along the rail, with jockey James McDonald tracking second favourite Ceowulf. At the 200-metre mark she still had work to do, and Lindermann looked set to steal it, but the Sebring mare dug deep to prevail in the shadows of the post.
“It was an intriguing race,” Waller said.
“Lindermann, I thought, was rolling along at pretty good sectionals, and I thought he’d be vulnerable late, but he kept fighting hard. I actually thought Lindermann won, but when it’s a stablemate fighting out the photo finish, you’re not too concerned.
“The Kepitis family, Woppitt Bloodstock, they’re still cheering on the ownership of the Ingham family, which they are. It’s an amazing family, they’ve been so good to me for so long, and it’s just a privilege to train for them.
Fangirl winning the 7 Stakes | Image courtesy of Sportpix
“Forget her run last start at Caulfield. She just didn’t get around the track as well as we would have liked, and back at home today she was awesome.”
Asked if the King Charles III Stakes was next, Waller confirmed:
“That’s her race. She loves the mile, she loves Randwick, nothing more to say. Four weeks’ time, it’ll be a big day.”
“That’s her (Fangirl) race. She loves the mile, she loves Randwick, nothing more to say. Four weeks’ time, it’ll be a big day.” - Chris Waller
McDonald was delighted with the effort of a mare who means so much to him.
“She’s so good, I love her dearly. She’s such a thrill to ride and every time she gives her heart out there, she’s a line chaser. She got in a lovely spot, found the fence, saved ground, and got out with enough time.”
“She’s (Fangril) so good, I love her dearly. She’s such a thrill to ride and every time she gives her heart out there, she’s a line chaser.” - James McDonald
Asked if he was always confident of running down Lindermann, he admitted:
“He fought harder than I thought. Credit to him, he fought when I came up to him. I felt like I was going to have it easier and then he fought, but Fangirl was too strong.”
Pedigree Information: Fangirl was bred and is raced by Ingham Racing, she is the sixth foal from the Encosta De Lago mare Little Surfer Girl.
James McDonald and Fangirl after winning the 7 Stakes | Image courtesy of Sportpix
Little Surfer Girl was a seven-time winner, including three Listed races. She is out of the outstanding Special Harmony (Spinning World {USA}), a three-time Group 1 winner who produced six individual winners.
Little Surfer Girl has more recently produced a 3-year-old filly named Bella Wahine (Wootton Bassett {GB}), a 2-year-old colt by Home Affairs, and a yearling filly by Home Affairs, and she is due to foal to Wootton Bassett {GB} in late October.
Sir Rupert Clarke glory for Sepals
In a big, open field of 15 runners over Caulfield’s tight 1400 metres, the G1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes once again delivered high drama and hard-luck stories in a frantic dash for glory.
The winner of this year’s edition was the talented Sepals (Calyx {GB}), who was speared across from his wide gate of 14 to sit outside leader Zarastro (I Am Invincible). Star jockey Craig Williams, fresh from winning the G1 Underwood Stakes on Sir Delius (GB) (Frankel {GB}), made it a Group 1 double for the day and notched his eighth victory in this particular race.
They set a solid tempo, but the Cliff Brown-trained galloper absorbed the pressure and kicked strongly to score by three-quarters of a length over the fast-finishing Miss Roumbini (Zoustar), Feroce (NZ) (Super Seth) ran a brave third, while favourite Angel Capital (Harry Angel {Ire}) endured a luckless run after settling well back from a wide draw, Damian Lane unable to find clear passage.
Trainer Cliff Brown was delighted.
Cliff Brown after Sepals won the G1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“Very happy. I’m really pleased for everyone. Jo and the kids and the staff, they’re amazing. There’s a lot of work that goes into them. He’s a special horse and he deserves the attention that he gets.”
On Williams’ ride, he added:
“It was quite interesting. He came out and said, ‘I’ll just let him find his feet.’ That went out the window, but that’s what he does, and that’s why you put the best on. He’s done a great job.”
Sepals winning the G1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Williams again deflected praise after the win.
“I had the right horse presented by the horse’s trainer, Cliff Brown and all his staff. From an outside barrier this horse made effortless work of it and I could do what I wanted on him because he was very well-prepared - and he’s a bloody good horse too.
“It’s hard to win Group 1s and he’s done it, and that’s not it for this horse, he’s got more to come. He’s just got such a good action, he’s got a great motor, and I was very fortunate to ride him today.”
Connections of Sepals after winning the G1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Sales Information: Sepals was a $80,000 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale purchase in 2023 for Cliff Brown Racing from the draft of Vinery Stud.
Pedigree Information: Sepals is the first foal out of Singapore Champion 4-year-old What’s New (NZ) (Casino Prince), a six-time winner including twice at Listed level. Further back in the family is the Group 1 winning 2-year-old Good Faith (NZ) (Straight Strike {USA}) and the Group 3 winning sire Tully Dane.
