Chris Waller’s mare Joliestar ($4.80) has surged into The Everest frame with an emphatic victory in the Group 2 Shorts (1100m) at Randwick.

Ridden patiently by James McDonald, Joliestar sat wide but travelled smoothly before powering past Briasa ($3.10) to win by 1¼ lengths, with stablemate Generosity ($19) running third.

Race favourite Private Harry ($2.15) weakened to fifth, with jockey Ash Morgan telling stewards, “I was under pressure a long way from home, I was flat from about the 350m.”

McDonald said the wide run didn’t concern him. “I only had one objective and that was to get her into a smooth rhythm … she was game as anything. She deserves a spot in The Everest.”

Waller confirmed the mare will head to the $20 million feature next month. “Today, four weeks, a trial and she’ll be ready to go,” he said.

Joliestar now sits on the second line of betting at $7, behind Hong Kong’s Ka Ying Rising.