It was the same three horses from the Gr.2 Apollo Stakes trifecta that were first across the line in the Gr.1 Verry Elleegant Stakes at Randwick on Saturday, but it was Yulong’s star mare who was on top this time, switching up the order. The seven-year-old mare patiently waited until well into the straight to charge, with Fangirl (Sebring) hot on her heels – but it was too great of an effort to get past Via Sistina (IRE) (Fastnet Rock) over her beloved mile distance, and Fangirl had to settle for second this time by 0.36l.
Not to be forgotten, fellow Waller trainee Lindermann (Lonhro) – who had been chasing down early leader Golden Path (NZ) (Belardo {IRE}) – fought hard at the end to catch the two mares, finishing 0.03l behind Fangirl to seal the Waller trifecta. First up Fawkner Park (IRE) (Zoffany {IRE}) gave chase when the mares kicked to finish in fourth position.
“I knew it was going to be a battle of tactics, and James (McDonald, on Via Sistina) was concerned about the draw (barrier eight) in terms of where we would get to,” Waller said. “The track is racing pretty quick today and it is hard to make up a lot of ground, so the last 200 metres, I was proud, simple as that.
“Unfortunately there had to be a winner.”
The race capped off a four-timer for McDonald across the Randwick card, including both Group 1s back-to-back and the Gr.2 Guy Walter Stakes, to bring him to 111 career Group 1 wins. He sent an ominous warning to Via Sistina’s rivals for the rest of the autumn.
“There’s no guarantees in racing, but she’s going to be awfully hard to beat, especially now that that second-up run is out of the way,” McDonald said.
Waller recognised the enormity of the mare’s rise in Australian racing, saying, “it’s been a great story. A year ago she wasn’t even in our lives, just a horse in quarantine and we were just starting getting to know her. What’s happened in the past 12 months, it’s quite remarkable.”
Via Sistina winning the Gr.1 Verry Elleegant Stakes
1/3
Gallery: Images courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
After this seventh Group 1 win for Via Sistina, the plan is for her and Fangirl’s autumn paths to now diverge, with the former aimed at the Gr.1 Ranvet Stakes, before peaking in the Gr.1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes in April.
“She can sustain herself at 2000 metres – and Fangirl might just breathe a sigh of relief.”
Written by Kit Gow for TTRAusNZ
