Joliestar denied in thrilling finish to Royal Ascot sprint
Joliestar’s bid for Royal Ascot glory was spoiled by a late surge from Almeraq, who produced an upset win in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes.
Star Australian mare Joliestar produced a brave but ultimately luckless performance to finish third in a thrilling edition of the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes as Royal Ascot drew to a close on Saturday.
Sent off the $2 favourite after significant betting support, the Chris Waller-trained five-year-old looked poised to add an international Group 1 to her résumé when she surged to the front inside the final furlong under James McDonald.
However, she was swallowed up in the final strides as William Haggas’ Almeraq lunged late to deny Japanese star Satono Reve by a nose, with Joliestar another short-head away in third. The first three home were separated by the narrowest of margins in one of the finishes of the week.
For much of the race, Joliestar travelled smoothly behind the pace set by fellow Australian Overpass and Britain’s Regional.
McDonald asked her to lengthen entering the final furlong and she responded, briefly appearing the likely winner before Satono Reve challenged. Just when the Japanese runner seemed set to secure victory, Tom Marquand drove Almeraq through late to snatch the prize on the line.
“She was so, so brave but the race didn’t pan out for her,” said McDonald.
“They went too slow early and she got quite keen and then being left in front a bit earlier than I wanted.
“But she went great, she is a wonderful mare.”
Waller told Racing And Sports that he was immensely proud of what the daughter of Zoustar had achieved.
“I just wanted her to turn up and run well, and she’s certainly done that. She’s fought out a brave finish,” he said.
“Huge accolades to the winner. It was a tough finish, and we came off third best.”
Overpass faded to finish 13th, having run third in the King Charles III earlier in the week.
Earlier on the card, Orthodox gave trainer Clive Cox victory in the Norfolk Stakes, defeating El Floridita and Mussab. The Hardwicke Stakes went to Giavellotto, who held off Kalpana and Goliath in a strong staying contest.
The Jersey Stakes was claimed by Irish-trained Thesecretadversary, a son of St Marks Basilica, while the ultra-competitive Wokingham Handicap fell to Double Rush, who is owned by Ace Stud, the Northern Hemisphere sister operation of Yulong.
Australian interest was rewarded later in the afternoon when James McDonald guided Lost Boys to victory in the Golden Gates Stakes for trainer David Menuisier and Wathnan Racing. The meeting concluded with the marathon Queen Alexandra Stakes, where Aidan O’Brien’s Illinois, ridden by Ryan Moore, proved too strong for French Master and Mr Hollywood. The win helped Moore secure leading jockey honours for the week, while O’Brien again finished as the meeting’s dominant trainer.
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