Trainer Chris Waller's wet worries ahead of crucial Joliestar trial
Waller is using the 900m heat to prepare Joliestar for the Group 1 $1 million Kingsford Smith Cup (1300m) at Eagle Farm on May 31 where the mare is currently the $4 TAB Fixed Odds favourite.
But the Canterbury trials session, which has already been postponed from Monday due to heavy rainfall, is in some doubt given the weather forecast is not encouraging.
If Joliestar doesn't get to go around at Canterbury, Waller has a fallback option of trialling at Rosehill on Friday.
A number of other Brisbane carnival contenders are also due to trial at Canterbury including Hawkesbury Guineas winner Media World, unbeaten Clarendon Stakes winner Aerodrome, and promising three-year-old Angel Capital.
The wet weather which has lashed the NSW coast in the last 48 hours resulted in the postponement of Monday's Port Macquarie meeting.
Newcastle 's track surface is already a heavy 10 for Tuesday's meeting with club officials hoping there isn't too much rainfall overnight.
Tamworth is also hosting a Tuesday raceday with the track in the soft range late on Monday.
Racing returns to Royal Randwick on Saturday for the first time in a month with the track rated a heavy 9 late on Monday and rain forecast for Sydney all week.
Despite the certainty of a wet track at Randwick, there was a bumper 244 nominations for the 10-race program on Saturday.
In a proactive move, Racing NSW moved Friday's Coffs Harbour meeting to Inverell where conditions are much drier.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

News.com.au
34 minutes ago
- News.com.au
AFL 2025: Carlton champion Sam Docherty's parting hope for superstar captain Patrick Cripps
Carlton champion Sam Docherty will retire with a parting apology and hope for superstar Blues captain Patrick Cripps. Docherty announced his retirement on Tuesday morning, drawing a curtain on one of footy's most motivating careers. He will play his 184th and final game this Thursday against Hawthorn at the MCG. Docherty moved from Brisbane to Carlton ahead of the 2014 season just days before the Blues drafted their now dual Brownlow Medal champion out of Western Australia. They arrived at Princes Park together and would eventually captain the club together in 2021. In a brilliant retirement speech in front of family, friends and teammates, Docherty detailed a decade-long dream he and Cripps shared. He apologised for calling time prematurely but hoped Cripps would carry on to live out their dream of premiership success. 'I have already made the big fella cry today but to 'Crip', a bit more prepared this time, mate,' Docherty said. 'Thanks, mate, again. We've had a solid dream together for the last 10 to 12 years about where we wanted to take this footy club. 'I am sorry we don't get that moment we've dreamed of, it's something I have chased with you and wanted to have with you for my whole time I've been at the club. 'Hopefully you get what you deserved and you get the success you deserve across your career, mate. 'Thanks for guidance, friendship, love, support, all of that across my career, mate, I've needed it more than you'll ever know.' Docherty said three games have stood out across his career. The milestone game of his good mate Kade Simpson, who will coach Hawthorn's back six in Docherty's last game, his first game back from his cancer battle and the final win over Melbourne in 2023. 'Three games that stick out to me the most,' he said. 'Simmo's 250th, the emotion playing in that, he was my idol, still was when he was here and still is now, to be honest. 'Playing his milestone moment, having a big win, my return game from cancer and kicking the goal with everything behind that and what that meant to other people. 'Then the semi-final win over Melbourne, three games, to be honest most of the other memories … the fun of being in a footy club, the people you meet, the highs and lows of it all – it's all just a big part of footy I have loved.'

News.com.au
39 minutes ago
- News.com.au
Round 21 team lists: Storm to be without three key stars for Roosters clash as rep stars return this weekend
Melbourne Storm will be without three of their biggest stars for Thursday's game against the Roosters with Cameron Munster headed to Queensland for his father's funeral ruling out a dash to Sydney for the clash. Ryan Papenhuyzen remains sidelined with a calf injury while Nelson Asofa-Solomona will miss through suspension. The Papenhuyzen injury is a major concern with the club hopeful he'll be back in round 22, with Nick Meaney to remain at fullback with Tyran Wishart to replace Munster at five-eighth. 'He's getting close, but not close enough,' Storm general manager of football Frank Ponissi said. 'Medical staff would like to see him do a little bit more running and they just think Thursday is a bit short. It was touch and go whether he'd play this Thursday, but the nature of the soft tissue injury and the chance of re-injuring it was a factor.' They face a Roosters side that has also made some key changes with Sandon Smith recalled at five-eighth to replace Chad Townsend, although Hugo Savala is lurking in the reserves and could make an early return from injury. Victor Radley will miss the match with a shoulder injury and has been replaced by Siua Wong, while Ethan King starts at centre in place of Billy Smith (concussion protocols). There's mixed news at the Eels with superstar halfback Mitch Moses cleared to return from the calf injury that ended his Origin campaign, but they've lost rookie sensation Isaiah Iongi for a month with a hand injury. Joash Papalii starts at fullback for the trip to Brisbane to face a Broncos side that gets Payne Haas, Jesse Arthars and Corey Jensen back. There's a potential triple boost for the Panthers who welcome back the rested Nathan Cleary and Isaah Yeo for their game against the Tigers, while Liam Martin has been named in the reserves and could return from a wrist injury. The injury-hit Rabbitohs have had a rare win with livewire fullback Jye Gray cleared to return, but they've lost Keaon Koloamatangi (ankle) for the season and will be without Jamie Humphreys and Peter Mamouzelos to head knocks. Englishman Lewis Dodd looks set to start at halfback against the Sharks who get Jesse Ramien back but have lost Briton Nikora after he failed an HIA last week. Strike centre Seb Kris (concussion) will miss Canberra's game against the Knights, with Simi Sasagi to start, while the Bulldogs get Bronson Xerri back after he missed a week with a groin issue. The Sea Eagles have received a huge boost following their shock win over the Storm with boom back-rower Haumole Olakau'atu to return from a shoulder injury that has kept him out for more than a month. The Titans have lost skipper Tino Fa'asuamaleaui to a knee injury, while David Fifita hasn't been named in the squad for the trip to take on the Warriors who get Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad back from a knee issue. And the Cowboys have made another change in the halves with Tom Duffy to play five-eighth, while Robert Derby replaces the injured Murray Taulagi on the wing.

News.com.au
43 minutes ago
- News.com.au
Len Ikitau desperate to help Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii ‘pull the trigger' against the British and Irish Lions
Wallabies centre Len Ikitau says it's up to him to provide the platform for prized recruit Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii to terrorise the British and Irish Lions at the MCG on Saturday night. Down 1-0 in the three-Test series, the Wallabies can't afford another defeat if they want the following weekend's clash in Sydney to be more than a dead rubber. To level the series in Melbourne, the Wallabies need to find a way to get golden boy Suaalii – who switched codes last year on a multimillion-dollar deal after starring in the NRL for the Sydney Roosters – more involved in the game than he was in Australia's 27-19 first Test loss at Suncorp Stadium. 'I felt like I didn't really get him into the game as early as I wanted, but that's a lot of learnings I can take moving forward,' Ikitau said in discussing the need for his partner in the centres to get more of the ball. 'We've only played a handful of games together, but it's just trying to understand in what places he likes to get the ball, and feeding off each other. 'We've been going hard at training, making sure we know what we want as a centre pairing, and going off that.' Ikitau said it was also up to Suaalii, as well as himself, to 'go looking for the ball'. 'We can't sit on the edge and expect the ball will come, because sometimes the way the game's played, it doesn't really get to an edge,' he said. 'It's not like rugby league. He doesn't have to stay on the left side. He can roam around and get into the ruck or close to the ruck if he has to, to get a touch and be in the game.' 'I know that he's just a freak of an athlete and he can step up to the occasion, and just play his footy. 'It's just being able to pull the trigger when then opportunity comes, and just being able to back our opportunity to pull the trigger.' Ikitau, who made his Test debut in 2021 and has played 41 times for the Wallabies, felt it was also his responsibility to 'help' young flyhalf Tom Lynagh, who has just four appearances for Australia under his belt. 'I feel like I need to help Tommy. Tommy's only played a handful of games for the Wallabies, and it's just making sure he's got someone that he can rely on, and be comfortable with, and then just being able to flow and get the rest of the backline into the game,' Ikitau said. 'It's just giving Tommy the confidence to play his game and just backing him. We've got to back the young buck and let him play his game.'