Joliestar sprints clear in Group 1 Newmarket Handicap
Joliestar has bounced back with a slashing victory in the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m), giving Chris Waller his second victory in the race and Damian Lane his first success in the time-honoured contest.
The daughter of Zoustar finished third in the Group 2 Expressway Stakes first-up, and punters were more than happy to give her another chance, as she was hammered in betting with Picklebet and jumped as a +240 favourite.
After jumping well from her barrier, Lane settled the favourite in the middle of the pack about three lengths off the leaders, Sghirripa (+3000) and Rey Magnerio (+800).
The field huddled up and ran along down the outside of the track, and it would be a matter of whoever got the luck in the final 300m of the race.
Lane waited patiently for a gap to appear, and once it did, he pushed Joliestar through, and the mare let down with a devastating turn of foot.
Headwall (+1300) followed the winner through the field, and he finished off well to claim second, while Stretan Angel (+1100) ran on strongly to claim third place.
However, it was all honours to the winner, as Joliestar claimed a 1.25-length win.
Charlie Duckworth represented the winning stable in the post-race interview.
“We had faith about the horse being the best horse in the race. That is what we thought going out there,” Duckworth said.
“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’s gone full circle. She’s won a Guineas, she’s won a Newmarket.
“She’s an amazing athlete and we’re just happy to be involved, to be fair.
“The TJ Smith is like and Chris mentioned Royal Ascot during the week.
“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.”
Damian Lane was emotional post-race, and he touched on claiming the Dean Holland trophy following the win.
“It felt like I needed an inch of room, and she was going to put them away,” Lane said.
“She just travelled so easily the whole race.
“Never been so confident that I could put a Group 1 away if I got the right run.
“When it (the gap) 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.
“I don’t think there was a member of our industry who wasn’t touched in some way by Dean (Holland).
“He was such a character. Much loved in the jockeys’ room. It is sad but rewarding at the same time.”
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