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Joliestar wins fourth career G1 with Canterbury Stakes victory

7th Mar 2026

Joliestar (Zoustar) won a fourth career G1 today in the Canterbury Stakes at Randwick in what was the next step in a Royal Ascot dream for owners Sir Brendan and Lady Jo Lindsay.

The Chris Waller-trained Joliestar is undefeated this preparation, having won the G2 Expressway Stakes first-up three weeks ago and showed her characteristic determination to add another G1 to her tally this afternoon.

The win was also significant for Waller, who had won every G1 in Sydney except the Canterbury Stakes prior to today.

Sir Brendan and Lady Jo of Cambridge Stud purchased the Chris and Jane Barham-bred Joliestar (pictured) for $950,000 at the Easter Yearling Sale, where she was offered by Segenhoe Stud.

She has now won nine of her 20 career starts for $7,184,725.

The 5YO mare is one of 117 G1-winning Inglis graduates since 2018.

Sir Brendan Lindsay admitted he was starting to run out of superlatives for his brilliant mare.

“She’s done it again. She’s now won a G1 in three different states, that’s an incredible feat,’’ Sir Brendan said.

“She’s a bloody superstar, isn’t she. She won really well today.

“This year she’s just jumping a little handier and it makes a big difference. When you can just be 4th or 5th rather than getting back like last year when she had no luck with barrier draws, it can make all the difference.

“She’s off to the TJ next and then all going well, Royal Ascot for the King’s Stand Stakes. We’re going to have to go and get a top hat and tails!’’

Winning trainer Waller added: “These Group 1s are what it’s all about. She’s a great mare, she’s come back strong and [jockey] James [McDonald] did a great job with her, he knows her so well and she’s done well.

“Barrier draws are important, she’s been a bit unlucky in some of the big ones but she got one today and got the job done.’’

Also at Randwick today Gangsta Granny (Written Tycoon) returned in fine style, winning the G3 Wenona Girl Quality first-up from a spell.

It was a fifth career win from just 10 starts for Gangsta Granny – the 4YO mare has never finished outside the top three.

Trained by Team Hawkes, Gangsta Granny is a $240,000 Easter Yearling Sale purchase for Eric Koundouris from the Lime Country Thoroughbreds draft, who offered her on behalf of breeder Stuart Ramsey.

“She’s gone to another level this time around,’’ co-trainer Michael Hawkes said.

“Her trials have been unbelievable…she’s come back with a bang. She had to carry the weight (58.5kg) but she’s a class mare.’’

And progressive mare Pinito (Trapeze Artist) scored a tenacious victory with a strong performance in the G3 Aspiration Quality.

Pinito is an emerging talent – she ended her 3YO season with a Stakes victory in the Gold Coast Bracelet before finishing 2nd in the G1 Queensland Oaks.

Trained by Chris Waller, the Bert Vieira-bred Pinito is a $260,000 Easter Yearling Sale purchase for Godolphin from the Widden draft.

Meanwhile at Ellerslie in New Zealand superstar filly Well Written (Written Tycoon) remained unbeaten, scoring her sixth consecutive career victory in the $4m Listed The Kiwi.

The 3YO Well Written had to do it the hard way today, scoring by the smallest of margins and then having to win the race again in the stewards room after the second-placed horse protested against her.

Bred by Dave Digney and trained by Stephen Marsh, Well Written is a $32,500 Great Southern Weanling Sale purchase for Benji King’s Foxhill Thoroughbreds, from the Lemrac Lodge draft.

She is now a winner of $2.2m in prizemoney.

Digney raced Well Written’s dam Mozzie Monster – and bought her half sister at last week’s Premier Yearling Sale at Oaklands.

“She looks very special. It’s very exciting. It makes you want to stay in the game, doesn’t it!’’ Digney said.

“It’s a bloody good feeling and she’s a very impressive horse and they’ve done a great job with her.

“The emotions, you feel like you own her which is always nice. It was a bit nerve-racking today with the protest but she got the job done.

“I’ve been breeding for 30 years and she’s my greatest success story.’’

Earlier on the Ellerslie program the Ken Harrison-trained Moxie (Strasbourg) scored a valuable first Stakes success when winning the G2 Dubai Classic.

Bred by Hormac Bloodstock, the 4YO mare is a $6000 Great Southern Weanling Sale purchase for Lyndhurst Farm from the Rosemont Stud draft.

At Flemington today Untapped filly Sass Appeal (So You Think) made it four consecutive victories with a visually effortless performance to win the G2 Kewney Stakes.

The 3YO filly stalked the speed before cruising to the front at the 250m mark and never looked like getting beaten.

Trainer Danny O’Brien bought the Echo Beach Bloodstock and Brian Singer-bred Sass Appeal for $120,000 at the Premier Yearling Sale, where she was offered by Vinery Stud.

“She’s a lightly raced filly that’s got to the mile for the first time today at her fifth start in a race but [the win] wasn’t unexpected because she’s shown a really high level of ability from before her first start even, she’s had a great first preparation and I think she’s in for a very good spring,’’ O’Brien said.

“She’ll come back a lovely 4YO and the sky’s the limit for her.

“There’s a great group of 3YO fillies here at the moment with Tempted in Sydney, Sheza Alibi, we’ve got another very good one in [last week’s $1m Inglis Sprint winner] Getta Good Feeling but I wouldn’t swap this one for any of them.’’

O’Brien will now spell Sass Appeal – whose career record sits at 5:4.1.0 and $402,000 in prizemoney – and set her for the G1 Empire Rose Stakes at Flemington on Derby Day on October 31.

And Ahha Ahha (Starspangledbanner) shed her bridesmaid tag in fine style, winning the G3 Matron Stakes.

The 4YO mare had finished in second place six times throughout her career – including at her past three starts in Benchmark grade prior to today – but stepped up to black type company and proved too strong.

Trainer Clinton McDonald bought Ahha Ahha for $250,000 at the Premier Yearling Sale, where she was offered by her breeder Rosemont.

“It’s a great effort by the team. These mares take it in turns…I think if you’ve got a fit mare you’ve got to run them in these races,’’ McDonald said.

“We’ve got great owners in her…and it’s just been a great run for the stable, we’ve got a small group of horses and we’re winning these black type races and that’s what it’s about.’’

And last night at Pakenham Bright Legend (Churchill) scored a valuable first Stakes success when winning the Listed Torney Night Cup.

Up-and-coming trainer Joanne Mugavin purchased Bright Legend for just $2500 on Inglis Digital in last year’s June (Early) Sale and the 5YO mare has won three races and more than $165,000 in prizemoney since.