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A step up to 1300m for the Group 1 Canterbury Stakes on March 7 looks likely for the star Chris Waller-trained mare Joliestar who maintained her brilliant fresh record powering home to salute for the punters first-up in the 2026 Expressway Stakes results at Randwick on Saturday.

In her first run since placing third to Giga Kick down the Flemington straight in last November’s Champions Sprint, the five-year-old daughter of Zoustar was back to her best kicking off her autumn with an impressive victory in the Group 2 $300,000 Expressway Stakes (1200m).

Given a peach of a ride by James McDonald, who stars a suspension on Sunday, the mighty mare settled well just off speed before wearing down the front-runner Caballus inside the final 50m before charging home for a 1.19 length win.

“He (Caballus) booted and had us all chasing a fair way from home, but my mare is a dual Group 1 winner and probably counting,” McDonald said.

“She was always going to be surging and then it was always a matter of getting there in time.

“She takes a little bit to build through, hence why hustle and bustle sort of races can be the undoing of her. But when she gets the right setup like that, you’d be pushing it to find a horse who could beat her in this country.”

The Bjorn Baker-trained pacesetter Caballus was brave holding for third, while Waller’s three-time Group 1 winning Snitzel mare Lady Shenandoah did her best work late to make up ground and run third.

“She is a mature horse now. Simple as that,” Waller told Sky Thoroughbred Central after the win.

“Last year she needed to settle and relax and do the little things right. She does that now.

“James put her into a beautiful position. Tactically that was great. It was a sprint home.

“Tommy (Berry on Caballus) just about pinched the race. James didn’t go around them. He just stuck to the basics and rode her like a jockey should.”

Waller said he would speak to winning hoop J-Mac but plans at this stage are for Joliestar to next run in the Group 1 $750,000 Canterbury Stakes (1300m).

“See what James says. I’d say Canterbury Stakes, 1300m, here at Randwick in three weeks’ time,” the master horseman confirmed.

Savatiano (2021) was the last horse to do the Expressway Stakes – Canterbury Stakes double in the same year.

The all-in 2026 Canterbury Stakes odds on Joliestar have firmed following the Expressway Stakes results in from $2.80 to $2 and she now sits as the outright favourite.

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