Joliestar May Target July Cup, Return to Ascot in 2027

Joliestar (AUS) is set to contest Newmarket's July Cup (G1) July 11 and to try Royal Ascot again next year after running a brave but agonizing third in the June 20 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (G1). Trainer Chris Waller said Joliestar "did us proud" in her first overseas start, running a narrow third in the Jubilee as the favorite. The U.K.'s premier sprint was won by outsider Almeraq (GB), who scored by a nose to Japan's Satono Reve (JPN), with Joliestar a further short head away after a torrid three-way battle up the running. READ: Almeraq Defeats International Cast in Jubilee Thriller While plans for Joliestar were not set in stone, Waller indicated post-race the 5-year-old mare would likely contest the prestigious July Cup, another weight-for-age sprint up the straight at Newmarket. And regardless of her short-term future, Waller said Joliestar could well be back for another tilt at the Jubilee in a year's time. The master trainer said the mare's owners—Cambridge Stud's Sir Brendan and Lady Jo Lindsay—had greatly enjoyed their Royal Ascot experience in the past week. The couple won the Jubilee in 2020 as the new part-owners of their current-day shuttle stallion Hello Youmzain (FR), but could not attend as spectators were barred due to COVID. "It'll be an interesting conversation," Waller said. "But she might be back next year. Sir Brendan and Jo have had a great experience. I think they'll be back again." Speaking in the emotion-charged minutes following the Jubilee, Waller said Joliestar's longer-term preparations for October's The Everest (G1) were also on his mind, but that a July Cup start was a strong possibility. "It's a big challenge to stay here for a mare," Waller said. "We've got away with it to run so well today. "It's sweet to think that you could win in three weeks time in the July Cup. It's also good to get back home. There's some big races coming up in Australia." Waller said Joliestar had "gained admirers—she hasn't lost any" through her Jubilee effort. "On the world stage, we've run third. Honestly, fighting out a finish down the straight at Royal Ascot this week—we've come agonizingly close, but all I can say is I'm so proud. "She's done us proud." Breeder Barham Nearly Gets Second Jubilee Winner Another few inches would have meant a dream result for boutique breeder Chris Barham—the Toowoomba chiropractor who's now nearly bred two Jubilee winners. Starting off with Joliestar's second dam Legally Bay—whom he bought as a yearling from Highgrove Stud at the 2002 Inglis Easter Sale for AU$220,000—Barham has enjoyed phenomenal success with what's become one of the strongest families in the Australian stud book. Legally Bay won two stakes races for the Barhams before they bred three stakes winners from her. The trio is headed by Merchant Navy (Fastnet Rock), who won Royal Ascot's feature sprint—then known as the Diamond Jubilee Stakes—in 2018, having already claimed the Coolmore Stud Stakes (G1) at Flemington. Legally Bay's black-type winning trio also includes Jolie Bay, who took Randwick's Roman Consul Stakes (G2) for the Barhams in 2012, and ran second in the Coolmore later that year. Jolie Bay has in turn borne six winners from as many runners, headed by Joliestar. Bought by the Lindsays for AU$950,000 at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale in 2022, Joliestar has amassed more than AU$9 million in earnings from 10 wins—five at group 1 level. All in all, and despite her Ascot defeat, her record warrants ranking her as a champion, says her proud breeder. "She is a champion. You win five group 1s, you're a favorite going into the Jubilee, that's a big deal," Barham told ANZ News. "She's a real champion." Barham has to pinch himself over the success he's enjoyed with only a handful of mares. The 65-year-old didn't make the trip to Royal Ascot this year. Ironically, he was just up the road from Cambridge Stud in Auckland, where he chaired a chiropractic college board meeting, and "was up watching the race at 2:30 a.m., as you do". "She didn't disgrace herself—quite the reverse really. I was very proud of her. She was enormous really. It was a very big effort running up that straight. It's a big hill to climb." He added: "It would have been very unique if we'd bred a second group 1 winner there as well. It'd be quite unusual for an Australian to breed a couple of horses that have won the Jubilee." Still, Waller's words give Barham hope that dream isn't over. "Brendan and Jo could do anything—they're extremely successful human beings—but when you watch them around that horse, they just love it," Barham said. "They don't have to prove anything more with Joliestar, but they love it, and if she's still running and loves to race, then why not keep going? "We've seen a lot of successful older mares lately, like Winx, Via Sistina, Pride Of Jenni, Bella Nipotina. They sort of come of age a bit. "And you just don't get those horses, horses as good as Joliestar. So, when you get one and she wants to race—I'm really glad they seem to want to race on." Barham sold two mares at the Inglis Chairman's sale in May and is now down to five. Following the recent sale of his main associate Segenhoe Stud to Yulong, his mares are now mostly housed at Newgate Farm, and four come from the Legally Bay family. "I'm trying to get back to just having that family," he said. "I'm very happy Brendan and Jo have got two out of Jolie Bay. They're great breeders so it's good that they're in good hands." Aside from Joliestar, the Lindsays have her yearling half-sister by Anamoe (AUS), who they bought at Magic Millions Gold Coast this year for AU$470,000. The Barhams have Joliestar's 4-year-old full-sister Legacy Bay, who's a Melbourne city winner with the Moody-Coleman stable. They also have a year-younger full-sister Jolie Eclipse, who's retired unraced and will have her first cover this spring from Darley newcomer Tentyris (AUS). Barham said a weanling full-brother would likely go to Inglis Easter next year, while he was "very excited" about the coming arrival of Jolie Bay's foal by Darley shuttler Too Darn Hot (GB), who's currently bearing down on Australia's third-season sires' title, to add to his first- and second-season crowns. After that birth, Jolie Bay is booked for a date with Home Affairs (AUS).