Group 1 winner #7 for Zoustar

3yo filly Joliestar became Zoustar’s seventh Gr. 1 winner when landing the 13-runner Schweppes Thousand Guineas over 1600m at Caulfield on Saturday 18 November.

Zoustar filly Joliestar went from dual Listed-placed filly to Gr.1 winner when victorious in the AU$1.5m Caulfield Thousand Guineas.

Joliestar was always handy on the rail in the hands of James McDonald and took over from another Zoustar filly carrying the colours of Brendan and Jo Lindsay’s Cambridge Stud, Zourion, in the home straight.

Joliestar hit the line with a cosy 1½ lengths to spare over runner-up Kimochi. It was back-to-back wins in the Caulfield Thousand Guineas for McDonald and trainer Chris Waller after Madame Pommery in 2022. Waller obviously trained Zoustar himself.

Waller said of Joliestar: “She's done it herself. I've found the races, she's turned up.”

McDonald added: “She's had a feeling about her that her whole preparation that she has kept improving and improving but she hasn't been winning. She hasn't had a lot of luck, so I thought today from barrier one she was going to get every chance."

Joliestar is the 47th Stakes winner for Zoustar. She is out of Jolie Bay, who won the Gr.2 Roman Consul Stakes over 1200m in 2012. Jolie Bay is a full sister to dual Gr.1 winner – inc. the 2018 Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot – Merchant Navy.

Joliestar was sold by Segenhoe to Cambridge Stud for $950,000 at the 2022 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale.

This was a second Gr.1 winner for a Zoustar 3yo in 14 days as Ozzmosis won the Gr.1 Coolmore Stud Stakes earlier in the month.