Star return from Everest hope

Glamour mare Joliestar overcame a torrid run to open her spring campaign in sizzling fashion at Randwick.

Our sprint queen had no favours in the run but showed her class on her return from a three-month break with a convincing victory for trainer Chris Waller in the G2 Shorts over 1100 metres.

It was a towering performance and emphasised the regally bred daughter of Zoustar is on target for A$20 million The Everest, in which she will run in the slot held by Waller and partners.

Joliestar finished a luckless seventh in the 2024 Everest and subsequently claimed Group 1 titles in the Newmarket Handicap and the Kingsford Smith Cup.

The five-year-old was making her first appearance at Randwick since the latter event at Eagle Farm and paraded in prime order off the back of two trial outings.

"She's very good isn't she. She's well named, she's a star,” Waller said.

"The owners Brendan and Jo, have looked after her so well and have been so patient and they're reaping the rewards now, but most importantly we’ll see how she comes through it.”

Joliestar settled back and four deep from a wide barrier before improving widest near the turn and the five-year-old turned on the after burners in the straight to romp home to the seventh victory of her 16-start career.

"I expected her to win, but not with that much ease, she executed really well," rider James McDonald said.

“That was thrilling because she deserves a spot in The Everest. I think she'll make her presence felt.”

Bred by Chris Barham, she was offered by Segenhoe Stud at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale where we went to A$950,000 to secure the blueblood.

She is out of the Fastnet Rock mare Jolie Bay, who won the G2 Roman Consul Stakes and finished runner-up in the G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes, and is a sister to the Australian and international Group 1 winner and stallion Merchant Navy.

All six of Jolie Bay’s progeny to race have been successful and includes the stakes performers Emperor and God Of Thunder