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The 2025 Newmarket Handicap results went the way of the punters at Flemington on Saturday with Chris Waller‘s class mare Joliestar back in Group 1 winning form at Headquarters.
After an earlier upset by Tom Kitten over Mr Brightside in the All-Star Mile, the favourite backers finally had something to cheer for with Zoustar four-year-old Joliestar ($3.40F) charging down the iconic ‘Straight Six’ track to beat home Headwall ($14) by 1.25 lengths in this year’s Group 1 $1.5 million Newmarket Handicap (1200m).
The victory was the mare’s second at elite level following her 2023 Thousand Guineas success as a young filly at Caulfield and her first turf triumph since a Group 3 win fresh at Randwick last August.
Despite it having been a while between wins, Joliestar went around as the well-backed top elect in the Newmarket following on from her first-up third to Magic Time in Sydney’s Group 2 Expressway Stakes (1200m) in mid-February.
Magic Time was luckless in her Group 1 run at Randwick on Saturday finishing third to $20 winner Royal Patronage in the Canterbury Stakes (1300m), but the form was well and truly franked by Waller’s second Newmarket Handicap champion.
The master horseman won the race for the first time back in 2015 with Brazen Beau and a decade later added a second Newmarket trophy to the cabinet thanks to Joliestar’s big performance.
“We had faith about the horse being the best horse in the race. That is what we thought going out there,” Waller’s stable rep Charlie Duckworth told Racing.com.
“It made the watch a little less stressful knowing that she does have that electric turn-of-foot because when she is at her best, she is amazing.
“She is amazing every time when she wins in like that you think she is the next sprinter in the land.
“She is a very good sprinter and it looked like a Newmarket where she might not be crippled with the weights. There is a lot that goes on Monday to Friday. It’s not just about getting a photo on Saturday.
“It is amazing. Chris’ craftsmanship in terms of planning, and plotting, and scheming, to try and get the right horse to maximise their potential and their value is unbelievable.”
It was an easy ride for jockey Damian Lane who weaved his way through the Newmarket Handicap field on the eventual winner.
He found the gap he needed with 200m to go hitting the lead on Joliestar who then did the rest drawing clear for a comprehensive victory in the time-honoured sprint.
“It felt like I needed an inch of room, and she was going to put them away. She just travelled so easily the whole race,” he said.
“Never been so confident that I could put a Group 1 away if I got the right run.
“When it came, she made light work of it. If you wait long enough usually you get a run in these straight races because horses are tiring, and they roll around a little bit.
“I just had to bide my time, and we got out at the perfect time in the end. It all worked out well.”
Stretan Angel ($12) for Phillip Stokes completed the Newmarket Handicap trifecta 2.75 lengths back third in another Group 1 place at Flemington after her second in the Black Caviar Lightning.
The Group 1 $3 million TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on April 5 is the likely next-up target back in Sydney for Joliestar who could be overseas bound following that.
“The TJ Smith is likely and Chris mentioned Royal Ascot during the week,” Duckworth confirmed.
“If she could go to Royal Ascot, it would be amazing.
“We managed to achieve it with Nature Strip who is enjoying his life now with us.
“It would be really special to take a filly there and do that like we saw last year.”
Lankan Rupee (2014) was the last horse to complete the interstate Newmarket Handicap / TJ Smith Stakes double.
All-in 2025 TJ Smith Stakes odds at Ladbrokes.com.au on Joliestar to be the next have her as the $6 favourite at time of publish.
2025 Newmarket Handicap Results
| 5. Joliestar (8) J: Damian Lane56kg 377x3T: Chris Waller | ||
| 12. Headwall (3) J: Harry Coffey52.5kg 211x4T: Matthew Smith | ||
| 9. Stretan Angel (7) J: Lachlan Neindorf55.5kg 384x2T: Phillip Stokes | ||
| 7. Growing Empire (5) J: Mark Zahra55.5kg 233x7T: Ciaron Maher | ||
| 13. Suparazi (12) J: Declan Bates52kg 6320xT: Ben Brisbourne | ||
| 3. Arkansaw Kid (14) J: Craig Newitt56kg 0022xT: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes | ||
| 8. Ostraka (13) J: Jamie Mott55.5kg 110x9T: Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald | ||
| 14. Espionage (11) J: Dean Yendall50kg 251x6T: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | ||
| 10. It'sourtime (6) J: Craig Williams54kg 62314T: Danny O'Brien | ||
| 1. Benedetta (2) J: Ben Melham57kg 318x3T: Jason Warren | ||
| 6. Rey Magnerio (4) J: Jye McNeil56kg 12x13T: Robbie Griffiths | ||
| 11. Sghirripa (10) J: Luke Currie53kg x30x7T: Shane & Cassie Oxlade | ||
| 15. Gatsby's (15) J: Karis Teetan50kg 255x3T: Chris Waller | ||
| 4. Buenos Noches (9) J: John Allen56kg 90x3xT: Ciaron Maher |
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