Via Sistina Dominant in G1 Champions Stakes

Tara Madgwick - Saturday November 9

Fresh from a virtuoso performance to win the Group I MVRC Cox Plate in track record time, Yulong owned Fastnet Rock mare Via Sistina (IRE) turned on the afterburners again at Flemington on Saturday to win the Group I VRC Champions Stakes (2000m) by nearly three lengths.

Via Sistina (IRE) adds another G1 to the resume in the Champions Stakes - image Grant Courtney

Yulong have plundered elite horse sales all over the world in recent years and one of their big ticket items last year was Group I winning mare Via Sistina, who has now cemented her place at the end of this spring as the best racehorse in Australia.

The seven year-old has blossomed in the care of champion trainer Chris Waller and under a perfect ride from James McDonald delivered another superlative display.

Advertisement

She settled back in the field before gradually working her way into contention and when Via Sistina hit top gear that was that with last start Group I winner Atishu gallant in second place ahead of last year’s Caulfield and Melbourne Cup winner Without a Fight (IRE), who ran a terrific race at his first run since suffering a tendon issue last year.

“That was awesome. Everything just went beautifully to plan. I had the horse to really give me a smooth ride. 600m, 400m, I was just like changing gears and she just went,” said James McDonald.

"She's lightly raced. She's just coming into her own. And like I said during the week, she just thrives on work. It's great for the whole team there. Chris and his team have done an incredible job. It always comes with risk, running a horse after a Cox Plate like she did."

Via Sistina has won 10 of 20 starts - image Grant Courtney

Chris Waller feels privileged to have Via Sistina in the stable.

"Very special to get the opportunity to train a horse with European form lines like she had was pretty special,” Waller said.

“She did it first-up in a Ranvet and announced herself, and she's just done it consistently since, over 1400 (metres) and then coming out and winning a Turnbull and Cox Plates and then the Mackinnon (Champions) Stakes. It's a pretty special horse, so I'm appreciative for getting her to train. It's great to see the international form lines coming together.

“I might take her back to England. No, I' ll talk to Mr. Zhang and his family and, wherever she goes, it's a bonus really, with what she's done this year. We’ll give her a spell now and, I guess, look at a Queen Elizabeth."

That's the look of eagles! - image Grant Courtney

Via Sistina is a fascinating horse as she is the original ugly duckling that grew into a swan.

Her original owners Stephen and Becky Hillen purchased her as a yearling for 5,000 guineas at the Tattersalls December Sale and they were over the moon when she sold at the Tattersalls December Mares Sale last year fetching 2.7million guineas to the bid of Yulong be the second highest priced mare at the sale.

Via Sistina has the overall record of 10 wins and six placings from 20 starts and is the best of four winners from Nigh, an unraced half-sister by Galileo to dual Group I winning sprinter Kingsgate Native.

Her sire Fastnet Rock is now enjoying a well earned retirement at Coolmore Australia and his place on the roster has been taken by his promising young son Acrobat.

An interesting, but lesser known fact in Australia about Via Sistina is that she was bred by a small stud in the UK called Laundry Cottage Stud Farm, owned by Melba and Colin Bryce with help from daughter Gina, a renowned presenter on Sky Sports Racing and her siblings with Alex Elliott, Gina’s husband the Stud Manager.

Particularly interesting for Australia, is that they also bred Wootton Bassett, who was a multiple Group I winner and is now one of the world’s hottest sires with his first Australian bred progeny racing here this season and they include exciting colt West of Swindon, who made his debut with a second in the $1million ATC Golden Gift at Rosehill on Saturday.

Advertisment

Race Result - Champions Stakes Gr1 2000m

Flemington Track: Good(4) Time: 2:01.86
1
Via Sistina
- 7m Fastnet Rock (AUS) x Nigh (IRE) (Galileo (IRE))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: J B Mc Donald 57
Fastnet Rock
2
2.8
Atishu
- 7m Savabeel (AUS) x Posy (NZ) (No Excuse Needed (GB))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: Jye McNeil 57
Inglis June (Late) Online Sale $3,000
Seller: Price Racing (as agent)
Buyer: Greg Preston
Inglis Ready 2 Race Sale $105,000
Seller: Ohukia Lodge, Cambridge, NZ
Buyer: RJ & PM Price
3
4.8
Without A Fight
- 8g Teofilo (IRE) x Khor Sheed (GB) (Dubawi (IRE))
Tnr: A & S Freedman Rdr: M Zahra 59
4
5.2
Future History
- 7g Showcasing (GB) x Likelihood (USA) (Mizzen Mast (USA))
Tnr: C Maher Rdr: Dylan Browne McMonagle 59
5
6
Arapaho
- 8g Lope De Vega (IRE) x Alzubra (GB) (Dansili (GB))
Tnr: Bjorn Baker Rdr: B Melham 59
6
6.1
Docklands
- 5h Massaat (IRE) x Icky Woo (GB) (Mark Of Esteem (IRE))
Tnr: H Eustace Rdr: Declan Bates 59
7
6.3
Deny Knowledge
- 7m Pride Of Dubai (AUS) x The Paris Shrug (GB) (Manduro (GER))
Tnr: A & S Freedman Rdr: Damian Lane 57
8
7
Eliyass
- 6g Le Havre (IRE) x Edilisa (IRE) (Azamour (IRE))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: N Rawiller 59
9
8.8
Duke De Sessa
- 6g Lope De Vega (IRE) x Dark Crusader (IRE) (Cape Cross (IRE))
Tnr: C Maher Rdr: H Coffey 59
10
10.8
Royal Champion
- 7g Shamardal (USA) x Emirates Queen (GB) (Street Cry (IRE))
Tnr: A & S Freedman Rdr: Craig Williams 59
11
10.8
Nugget
- 8g Siyouni (FR) x Gemstone (IRE) (Galileo (IRE))
Tnr: C Maher Rdr: M J Dee 59
More Reading...
Winning Return for the Best in Australia - Via Sistina
Set to be crowned Australia’s Horse of the Year for last season, the mighty Fastnet Rock mare Via Sistina (IRE) returned on a rain soaked track at Randwick on Saturday to win the $1million Group I ATC Winx Stakes (1400m).
Extremely Good Filly Wins G2 Furious for Myracehorse
There has always been a big boom on Extreme Choice filly Apocalyptic following her flashing second on debut last December and we finally saw her back at the races at Randwick on Saturday and it proved well worth the wait!
Concorde Stakes Success For Headwall
With the first two across the line highlighting their claims for an Everest slot, Matthew Smith’s Headwall (Dream Ahead) came with a well-timed run in the $1m Group 3 ATC Concorde Stakes (1000m) to deny the unlucky Lady Shenandoah (Snitzel).
G1 Shamus Award - Quintessa Wins Proisir Plate
The early spring has tended to bring the very best out of Quintessa, and that trend continued at Ellerslie on Saturday with a spectacular last-to-first performance at $36 odds in the Gr.1 Proisir Plate.
Pericles Turns Back the Clock
Six year-old Street Boss (USA) gelding Pericles won the Group II ATC Tramway Stakes (1400m) two years ago in 2023 when trained by James Cummings and he repeated the effort at Randwick on Saturday, but this time he is in the care of Bjorn Baker.
Sires With Winners - Saturday September 6
Here is the full list of 106 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Via Sistina Dazzles in Record Breaking G1 Queen Elizabeth
Everything about Via Sistina (IRE) is impressive – from her unique physique to her giant stride to her unshakeable serenity – and the daughter of Fastnet Rock produced another virtuoso performance at Randwick on Saturday to win the $5million Group I ATC Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) in race record time and very nearly course record time.
$750,000 Deep Field Colt a SW on Debut
Nearly all of the good colts and geldings by now pensioned sire Deep Field find their way to Hong Kong, but astute trainer Clinton McDonald was determined to keep Rosberg paying $750,000 for the colt at the Inglis Ready 2Race Sale last year and he was rewarded at Moonee Valley on Saturday.
Front Runner Lindermann Wins Chelmsford Stakes
Capitalising on his outstanding second up form, Chris Waller’s Group 1-winning Lonhro gelding Lindermann held on to win the Group 2 ATC Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday.
Via Sistina Joins Two Group One Legends
Via Sistina is certainly in rare air and if you want another stat to put her in perspective – yesterday’s Winx Stakes win saw her become one of only three horses in the last 40 years to win eight Group One races in a 12-month period.