Cambridge Stud will bid for a second win in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (G1) when its star mare Joliestar lines up as favorite in the June 20 Royal Ascot feature. The race holds special significance to stud principals Brendan and Jo Lindsay, whose colors were lifted to victory by shuttle stallion Hello Youmzain in 2020.
Purchased for AU$950,000 from Segenhoe Thoroughbreds' draft at the 2022 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, Joliestar has developed into one of Australia's elite sprinters, winning five group 1 races including the 2025 Newmarket Handicap (G1), 2025 Kingsford-Smith Cup (G1), and April 4 T. J. Smith Stakes (G1). Cambridge Stud sales and nominations manager Scott Calder said anticipation was building across the operation ahead of the mare's overseas assignment.
"It is very exciting," Calder said. "It's all most of us have been able to think about for the last two or three weeks and, as it has gotten closer, it's certainly what everyone is talking about."
Calder said it would be particularly rewarding for the Lindsays to experience a Royal Ascot winner in person after travel restrictions prevented them from attending Hello Youmzain's success.
"It would be awesome for them if she could win and experience it in person this time," he said.
Trainer Chris Waller, who is overseeing the mare's preparation in England, reported Joliestar had thrived since arriving overseas.
"Her preparation, you can say, has been faultless, she looks fantastic, her work over the last week has been perfect and she is bouncing and is ready to go," Waller said. Joliestar was rated TAB's AU$3 favorite for the showpiece Friday.
June 16th's King Charles III Stakes (G1) third place-getter Overpass has been declared to run in Saturday's Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes. Bjorn Baker's admirable 7-year-old was beaten a length by Mission Central on the opening day of Royal Ascot, and will have had just four days to get over those exertions.
Joliestar enters the contest having won her last three starts, including two at group 1 level, and will be ridden by usual partner James McDonald. As he was Tuesday, Overpass will be ridden by his usual rider Josh Parr.
The pair will face fierce challenges from Japanese raider Satono Reve, who was runner-up behind Lazzat in the contest last year and has since won the Takamatsunomiya Kinen (G1), and the William Haggas-trained Lake Forest, winner of the 2023 Gimcrack Stakes (G2) and runner-up in the 2024 Commonwealth Cup (G1).
Mrs. Fitri Hay's Khaadem returns to the Royal Ascot meeting for a fifth time after a one-year hiatus in 2025, though as a longshot despite winning back-to-back editions of the Jubilee in 2023-24. Winner of last year's Woodford Stakes (G2T) at Keeneland, the 10-year-old gelded son of Dark Angel has finished off the board in three starts since a third in the Nov. 1 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T).
