The mighty eight-year-old mare of Yulong struck again on Saturday at Flemington when felling all before her in the Gr.1 Champions Stakes. Master tactician Chris Waller had faith in his star galloper despite a developing bog track and she dutifully delivered a two and three quarter length victory.
Second last as they entered the home turn in the 2000-metre event, it wasn’t hard for James McDonald to pick a path out wide for Via Sistina (IRE) (Fastnet Rock) and send the mare hurtling to the front when the pack parted around them.
Leader Tom Kitten (Harry Angel {IRE}) stuck on bravely as the mare passed him but was no match for her turn of foot – neither was emerging talent Zambardo (NZ) (Belardo {IRE}), the winner of his last four starts, who chased bravely for second. The latter was having his first start at stakes level altogether.
“Seeing the Sprint, the Mile and now this race, it’s giving everyone an extra taste of the great horses,” said Waller. “She was tough today. She went back from the draw, James didn’t panic and it was awesome to see her in the straight.”
It’s hard to believe what the mare has achieved to date, a sentiment echoed by Waller when reflecting on the last two years with the star mare in his stable.
“We were told she was a very good horse,” he said. “Her international form was something special and it’s rare for us to get a really high class horse down here like her, and she was just maturing. We’ve got her at the right time. They did an amazing job with her over there looking after her. She was a big, raw mare and don’t worry about her age. She’s just matured.
“They are great owners, Yulong. They’re sportsmen, they love their racing. I knew not to ask because I knew they’d have liked her to race here. It was a simple as that.
“They have given the racing public something to cheer for and what a great day it’s been with Ceolwulf, Giga Kick and now Via Sistina. Three serious horses on an amazing day of racing. They’re tough horses and when you look after them, they look after you.”
The win also marked a remarkable 50th Group 1 win for Waller and McDonald as a team, to which Waller said, “it is an honour to be working with him. It makes my job and possibly his job that little bit easier. There’s no pressure, no pre-race stress, and I didn’t even give any instructions.
“He said ‘I’ll go and ride her like Hughie used to ride Winx’, best horse in the race, give her some clean air, and I said, ‘that sounds good to me’.
“I don’t see it as a milestone. He’s great to work with. That’s a privilege in itself. The relationship works well. There’s less pressure when you trust each other. I’d go to war with him and he’d do the same for me.”
“We’re not far off one of the greatest combinations in racing history,” said McDonald. “That’s something to aim up at. He’s been a great supporter of mine and I’m happy to be a part of his team when you ride superstars like this, it’s always a pleasure. It was basically a copy and paste from last year, sit back and let her rip.”
Yulong have spent a collective $6.93 million to acquire Via Sistina, her dam Nigh (IRE) (Galileo {IRE}), and her half-sister Via Sienna (IRE) (Bated Breath {GB}), which has been more than eclipsed by the mare’s $19.4 million in earnings to date.
Via Sistina is the standout child of her unraced dam Nigh, who is a half-sister to Britain’s Champion 3YO Sprinter Kingsgate Native (Ire) (Mujadil {USA}).
Written for TTRAusNZ
