The money poured in late for the elite Chris Waller-trained Joliestar, and the mare duly delivered, securing her fifth Group 1 trophy and a third consecutive victory this preparation with a dominant display in the 2026 TJ Smith Stakes at Royal Randwick.

Joliestar is now Royal Ascot bound after collecting her fifth Group 1 in the 2026 TJ Smith Stakes. Photo: Bradley Photos.

Waller, who famously orchestrated a hat-trick of wins in the Group 1 $3 million TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) with the legendary Nature Strip (2020–22), now has a fourth title in the cabinet thanks to his incredibly consistent daughter of Zoustar.

Sent out as the $3.90 favorite, Joliestar provided the powerhouse duo of Waller and jockey James McDonald with a Group 1 double on Day 1 of The Championships, following Campione D’italia’s earlier success in the Inglis Sires’.

Coming off a clinical win in the Canterbury Stakes (1300m), she handled the slight drop in distance with ease, showing marked improvement from her ninth-place finish in this race last year.

“That is the difference between her this year compared to last year,” Waller told Sky Thoroughbred Central in the aftermath. “Last year she could pull out a belter but wide draws and luck in running could get her beaten, too, but she is a more complete racehorse now.”

With a prestigious international campaign at Royal Ascot now confirmed, Joliestar proved she is ready for the world stage by fending off her most credentialed field of sprinters to date.

“I would go to Royal Ascot and bring her back for The Everest – she has just started to mature as a racehorse,” Waller added. “I think we will probably go for the Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot. We had the trip planned well before today, but we wanted to see her run well in the TJ to cement her place for England. As a three-year-old she won the (2023 Thousand) Guineas and has been a model of consistency since.’’

Settling fourth as the field turned for home behind the front-running Overpass, Joliestar and J-Mac opted for a bold run along the rails at the top of the straight.

They hit the front with 400m to go, and the mare showed incredible tenacity to repel a late charge from former The Everest hero Giga Kick, who was luckless after being held up at a vital stage.

“She has had her doubters before, but they have no leg to stand on now, she is a Grand Final winner,” McDonald said. “I just let her gallop, I learnt not to organise her too much… us jockeys overplay the bias a little bit. When I walked the track I didn’t think it was that bad, where I was.”

Adding significant value to the TJ Smith trifecta was the Mitchell Freedman-trained Skybird, who flashed home at 40/1 for a brilliant third, only peaking on her run in the final 50m.

Waller confirmed the mare’s immediate future involves a flight to the UK.

“She’ll have a little bit of down time now and then work our way back from Royal Ascot,” he noted. “She goes so well fresh and no doubt will represent Australia very well on the grand stage.”

McDonald shared the stable’s enthusiasm for the trip abroad: “It’s very exciting and no doubt she’ll be a force to be reckoned with.”

2026 TJ Smith Stakes Results

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

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