The Chris Waller-trained Joliestar took out the TJ Smith. Here’s what the beaten brigade had to say.
Ethan Brown (Jimmysstar): “He is back on track. Will be peaking third up.”
Tyler Schiller (Briasa): “He tried hard. Got into an OK spot early. Just doesn’t seem to love the soft ground as much as he does good. Doesn’t let down late.”
Zac Purton (Giga Kick): “Great run. Really good effort. I thought he had it at the 150m but he sort of peaked on his run.”
Josh Parr (Overpass): “What a warrior. He hated that ground but found a way to perform for us. An amazing horse and he’s not done yet.”
Rachel King (Mazu): “Super run again. Up against the best and keeps running really well.”
Mark Zahra (Tentyris): “He began well but never really travelled for me. Had a chance to get off the fence but I was up at him most of the way just to get on the bridle. Travelled just before the bend when they sprinted. Didn’t get through it but he didn’t help me much through the run.”
Michael Dee (Magic Time): “She stuck on well. Tracking along nicely for the 1400m.”
John Allen (Skybird): “She went super. Thought we had a nice enough run. Probably peaked on the run with 50m to go.”
And, James McDonald on the winner, Joliestar:
“I just let her gallop, I learnt not to organise her too much, even though I would have preferred to be on the outside, I wasn’t too deterrent by the inside because I had room, she was organised and as it happens so often, us jockeys overplay the bias a little bit. When I walked the track I didn’t think it was that bad, where I was.”
Joliestar does it again! 🤩
She wins the G1 T J Smith Stakes before she heads off to take on the world! And that’s a G1 double to @cwallerracing – @mcacajamez 💪 pic.twitter.com/0I5ZfESZQb
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 4, 2026
