Cover image courtesy of Sportpix
Joliestar returns to Flemington, a track where she’s tasted Group 1 victory
Three-time Group 1 winner Joliestar (Zoustar) is set to return to the Flemington straight, the scene of arguably her greatest victory, after claiming this year’s G1 Newmarket Handicap down the straight in March. The Chris Waller-trained mare has already proven herself as one of the country’s top sprinters and looks ready to hit the G1 Champions Sprint in peak form.
Joliestar resumed this preparation with an explosive win in the G2 The Shorts, demonstrating her trademark finishing burst. She followed that with a solid fifth in the G1 The Everest Stakes, a run that was very good considering that it wasn't really run to suit.
Drawing barrier 7 in this 10-horse field, gives Champion jockey James McDonald options as the grandstand side shapes up as the ideal position to be on the fourth day of racing during the Flemington carnival.
Joliestar | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“She is going great, it is only her third run for the prep, she was awesome in The Everest, they didn’t go that quick and she has won up the straight, she has won a Newmarket,” trainer Chris Waller said on his CWR Preview show.
“She is ready to go.”
“She (Joliestar) is ready to go.” - Chris Waller
The race, however, is far from a formality. Exciting 3-year-old colt Tentyris (Street Boss {USA}) impressed with a commanding performance in the G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes and carries a handy weight advantage. Giga Kick (Scissor Kick) must be respected after his dominant G2 Schillaci Stakes win at Caulfield, while Caballus (I Am Invincible) is chasing his second major Group sprint of the week.
The G1 Champions Sprint promises to be a thrilling clash, and Joliestar’s return to the straight to take on a quality field will no doubt be one of the highlights of the day.
Chris Waller | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Via aims for the same double as last year
Last year, superstar mare Via Sistina (Ire) (Fastnet Rock) charged into the G1 Champions Stakes - then known as the G1 Mackinnon Stakes, fresh off a demolition job in the G1 Cox Plate, where she beat Prognosis (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) by an ever-widening eight lengths. Fast forward 12 months, and she is aiming for the same remarkable double, this time on the back of a narrow win over Buckaroo (GB) (Fastnet Rock) in the Cox Plate.
The now 8-year-old mare has compiled an extraordinary record of 15 wins, including 11 at Group 1 level, and has amassed just over $17.5 million in prizemoney.
Via Sistina | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“She’s great, she has come through the run well, last year coming off the back of a really big peak, which was good to do,” trainer Chris Waller explained on his CWR Preview show.
“She only has to replicate that Cox Plate run and she will win again. She looks great, is working well, I can’t fault her.”
“She (Via Sistina) looks great, is working well, I can’t fault her.” - Chris Waller
While Via Sistina is the standout, the G1 feature over 2000 metres still promises a competitive field. The most likely threats could come from runners that didn't go head-to-head with her in the Cox Plate. Tom Kitten (Harry Angel {Ire}), who ran a solid fifth in the G1 King Charles III Stakes behind Ceolwulf (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) at his last start looks a threat and he has previously won the G1 All-Star Mile at Flemington.
Maybe the Kiwi Pier (NZ) (Proisir) could spring an upset. He ran third in the same race where Tom Kitten finished fifth, and although he hasn’t yet won over 2000 metres, the wide-open spaces of Flemington could suit him.
Tom Kitten | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Meanwhile, Zambardo (NZ) (Belardo {Ire}) presents a potential blowout. Taking a huge step up in grade from Rating 78 company, he is chasing five consecutive wins, and trainer Mick Price with Michael Kent Jnr have already proven themselves giant killers this spring with fellow New Zealand-bred Globe (NZ) (Charm Spirit {Ire}) when he captured the G1 Caulfield Stakes.
With Via Sistina proven, primed and ready, she will take all the beating as she attempts to shine once again on Champions Day at Flemington.
Mr Brightside about to have his fifth crack at the G1 Champions Mile
Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) is aiming for another G1 Champions Stakes win on Saturday at Flemington, after taking out last year’s edition of the race. He heads into the feature mile off a tough second placing in the G1 King Charles III Stakes over the same distance, having been caught wide throughout and never flinching behind Ceolwulf (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}).
Co-trainer Ben Hayes believes the 8-year-old is going as well as ever, telling media earlier in the week:
“I think, arguably, you could say he is. He’s come back and his three runs to date have been fantastic and he’s showing no signs of training off. He’s an 8-year-old that every trainer would love. He’s won 10 Group 1s, he’s placed in 10 and he’s also won an All-Star Mile, so he’s a very special horse to Lindsay Park.”
Mr Brightside (NZ) | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
Incredibly, this will be Mr Brightside’s fifth attempt at this particular race, which has previously been known as the G1 Cantala Stakes and the G1 Champions Mile.
He finished fourth in 2021 behind Superstorm (Sebring), then third behind Alligator Blood (All Too Hard), second behind Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai) in 2023, before proving too good for Antino (NZ) (Redwood {GB}) and Fangirl (Sebring) in last year’s edition.
Hayes admits it won’t be easy this year, with a very competitive field.
“It’s a hard race to win and he’s got some pretty stiff competition as well,” he said.
“It’s a hard race to win and he’s (Mr Brightside) got some pretty stiff competition as well.” - Ben Hayes
“There are horses there that have beaten him before and he’s beaten them, so it’s going to be a really interesting race. He’s good enough, I know that. He’s a special horse for us, and we believe in him.”
Among those likely to challenge Mr Brightside are Ceolwulf (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}), coming off a Group 1 win in Sydney, Treasurethemoment (Alabama Express), who ran a very brave third in the G1 Cox Plate and will handle the drop back to a mile, and the bold Pride Of Jenni, who will look to lead all the way for her second win in this race after saluting in 2023.
Ben Hayes | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
The Waterhouse/Bott team looking for three Golden Gifts in a row
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable are well known for producing outstanding results with their 2-year-olds, and they are aiming to continue that success on Saturday at Rosehill, chasing a third successive win in the $1 million Golden Gift. They claimed the race with Shangri La Express (Alabama Express) in 2023 and North England (Farnan) last year.
This year, the stable has two runners: the promising Revengeance (Hellbent), who ran a slashing third on debut in the G3 Breeders’ Plate at the start of last month behind Incognito (Stay Inside), and the exciting Plagiarism (Written By), who has impressed at the trials, including beating his race-experienced stablemate in his last trial at Randwick on October 20.
“The fact he’s coming through a superior form line, he has the race experience now and he’s started to put it all together off what we saw in that race, he ticks a lot of boxes,” Bott told Racing NSW about Revengeance.
Revengeance | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
“He ran very well in the Breeders' and was probably a touch new, over reactive. He found a bit of interference late, and he did a good job to pick himself up and finish off the way he did. There’s plenty of raw ability, he’s done well since and gave us plenty of reasons to push on with him.”
He had a quiet trial just to keep him ready for this assignment. Bott said that if he carries the improvement he appears to have made into the race, he will be hard to beat in the $1 million event.
“He’s a lovely strong colt who looked like he was on an upward spiral going into the first run and the one that looked to have the most improvement to come out of the race itself,” he said.
“He’s (Revengeance) a lovely strong colt who looked like he was on an upward spiral going into the first run and the one that looked to have the most improvement to come out of the race itself.” - Adrian Bott
“He had a quieter time in that trial, he’s remained in work all the way through so he just needed a nice enough gallop to keep him up to the mark fitness-wise.”
Plagiarism, a sharp colt by Written By, also excites the stable. Bott explained:
Plagiarism | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
“He’s a real jump-and-run style of horse, plenty of natural speed and brilliance which we’ve seen at the trials. He’s going to need all that to offset the draw he’s been given, but he deserves his chance. He’s looked good in both trials and improved nicely into them. He’s shown a good level of precocity to us, so it’s no surprise that he’s lining up.”
It shapes as a very open edition of the race, with 14 runners set to take their place, including nine making their debut.
Adrian Bott | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
The biggest threats to the Waterhouse-Bott duo could be the Chris Waller-trained Defensemen (Wootton Bassett {GB}), who ran a good third on debut and is expected to improve; the well-bred Artemex (Exceed And Excel), who won his trial nicely; The Next Episode (Snitzel), a $2.8 million purchase at this year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, who has looked sharp at the trials; and the Terry Croft-trained Thrill Hunter (Ole Kirk), the only winner in the field, who also needs to be respected.
