Australasia’s reigning queen of the turf Via Sistina (IRE) (Fastnet Rock) laid down a gauntlet for the spring on Saturday when digging deep on a heavy Randwick track to secure back-to-back victories in the Gr.1 Winx Stakes.
Having her first start since victory in April’s Gr.1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes, the Gr.1 Cox Plate heroine – who equalled Winx’s (Street Cry) record of seven Group 1s for a season in the autumn – was made to fight for her tenth elite-level triumph in the $1 million feature by her burgeoning stablemate Aeliana (Castelvecchio).
The Gr.1 ATC Derby winner and one of six Chris Waller-trained runners in the race. Aeliana was sent off a $6.50 chance and loomed inside the final 100 metres to briefly look the $2.80 favourite, only for Via Sistina’s class to tell once again as she stretched to prevail by 0.4 lengths under a composed ride from James McDonald.
Finishing another 1.4 lengths behind in third, Gr.1 Sydney Cup winner Arapaho (FR) (Lope De Vega {IRE}) impressed with his first-up effort at $26, while multiple Group 1 winner Ceolwulf (Tavistock) rattled home from last to finish fourth, another 0.6 lengths back.
Waller recalled memories of Winx’s victory in the 2017 edition of the then Warwick Stakes, when she had to call on every ounce of her ability to reel in stablemate Foxplay (Foxwedge).
“It was almost a Foxplay moment, wasn’t it?” the champion trainer said. “We’ve got a couple of decent mares on our hands. Via Sistina is a champion, but Aeliana will get her time to shine.”
Having reaffirmed her status as the horse to beat this spring, Via Sistina is now on course to follow a similar program to last year, with the Gr.1 Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington a possible next target before a defence of her Cox Plate crown, with Sportsbet shortening her from $2.30 into even money for the weight-for-age showpiece at The Valley in October.
“She’s more than likely going to Melbourne for her second-up run,” Waller confirmed. “We’ll sit down with the owners, but everything is geared toward the Cox Plate again.”
McDonald admitted that Aeliana gave him a scare late, but said the win confirmed Via Sistina had lost none of her edge.
“Gee, the second horse was great,” the winning rider said. “I could see the shadow and couldn’t think what it would be. She gave me a hell of a fright. But even if we went another furlong, I think I would have held her. It was a pleasant race to ride.
“Nice for her [Via Sistina] to come back as good as she left off. It worked out really well. The deeper into her prep she goes, the better she will go. It’s good signs ahead.”
Written for ANZ Bloodstock News
