Joliestar

That third-place finish means she is yet to win, but placing on debut is a decent enough introduction. It shows she is competitive and capable of mixing it with others at her level without embarrassing herself. Plenty of horses take several runs to find their feet, so reading too much into a single race would be unfair.

What is worth noting is the stable behind her. Chris Waller is one of the most respected trainers in Australian racing, and his yard has already sent out five winners this season alone. Horses trained by Waller tend to be well-prepared and well-placed, so the fact that Joliestar is in his care suggests there is genuine belief in what she might become. The next run will tell us a great deal more.