James McDonald to ride Joliestar for Chris Waller Racing in $20 million sprint at Randwick
Premier jockey James McDonald will ride Joliestar in the $20 million Everest (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday, bidding for his second win in the richest race on turf.
McDonald, who is No. 1 in the world jockey rankings, had been lined up to ride either Joliestar or Lady Shenandoah, another mare trained by Chris Waller, in the race.
Joliestar and James McDonald cruise to victory in the Shorts at Randwick.Credit: Getty Images
Waller stable representative Darren Beadman said on Saturday that the decision would be made in consultation between McDonald, Waller and Victoria jockey Damian Lane, who will now ride Lady Shenandoah.
McDonald, who won the 2021 Everest on the Waller-trained Nature Strip, has a strong relationship with both stars but was locked in with Joliestar on Tuesday ahead of the announcement of tonight’s barrier draw.
Victorian rider Ben Melham had already been booked for Waller’s other Everest runner, Angel Capital.
Joliestar has been running behind or in second place behind betting favorite Ka Ying Rising for the Everest since McDonald guided her to a dominant win in the $1 million The Shorts (1100m) at Randwick on September 20. He has since pushed back well into the Randwick trial, where Ka Ying Rising finished third, and he entered the race in second place.
Joliestar is the only runner from last year’s Everest field to return this year, with Chris Waller Racing filling his spot. The five-year-old Zoustar filly finished seventh in 2024, but was only a length and a half clear of winner Bella Nipotina.
The McDonald’s journey was the last important piece of the Everest puzzle.
The jockey also enjoyed great success with four-year-old Lady Shenandoah, who improved her Everest points following an unlucky second in the $1 million Concorde Stakes (1000m) at Randwick on September 6. He will compete in the Fairway Thoroughbreds slot.
