Via Sistina Wins Her Second G1 Ranvet Stakes

Tara Madgwick - Saturday March 22

Australian racing fans got their first look at Via Sistina (IRE) when she won the $1million Group I ATC Ranvet Stakes (2000m) last year  and the champion daughter of Fastnet Rock has taken all before her ever since.

Via Sistina (IRE) wins her second G1 Ranvet Stakes - image Bradley Photography

Adding five more G1 wins to her resume in the 12 months since, the Chris Waller trained Yulong colour bearer was a short priced favourite to go back to back in the Ranvet and duly gave James McDonald an easy steer.

Advertisement

She ambled to the front with a furlong to run and powered clear to win by a length and a half over her stablemate Lindermann.

"Well, she lit up our lives, as I said, 12 months ago today. We didn't know what we had coming out of quarantine and obviously we had a good article and a good horse to work with and a very supporting team with Yulong,” said Chris Waller.

"So, back to the horse, like she is a star. She's a lovely, big, unassuming horse. But come race day, she really turns it on.

“We don't dare light her up in the mornings because what she's capable of, like she's a real powerhouse. Her track rider, Chris Harwood, said, oh, if we get her flying like one day she might just keep going as we saw. She's a gentle giant that graces the turf."

James McDonald has a great record on the mare and five of her G1 wins in Australia have been with him in the saddle.

“She's well up there that's for sure. She's definitely good. It takes a good one to beat the big boy (Lindermann), but she's well up there and she turns up each and every time which I'm so proud of her because if she was going to get beat it could have been easily a race like this,” he said.

"A little bit tricky but as we've seen she's getting more versatile. It felt like it was a mile race. She was really tanking up and hence the bead of sweat, so I've earned my money."

Via Sistina is on fire! - image Bradley Photography

The current superstar performer in the stellar Yulong racing stable, 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 in 2023 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 12 wins and seven placings from 24 starts with prizemoney just shy of $10million and is the best of two 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.

Advertisment

Race Result - Ranvet Stakes Gr1 2000m

Rosehill Track: Good(4) Time: 2:02.45
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
1.5
Lindermann
- 5g Lonhro (AUS) x Self Esteem (AUS) (Stratum (AUS))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: Damian Lane 59
3
2.1
Fawkner Park
- 6g Zoffany (IRE) x Za'hara (IRE) (Raven's Pass (USA))
Tnr: Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald Rdr: Tyler Schiller 59
4
5.1
Full Count Felicia
- 6m War Front (USA) x Claire De Lune (IRE) (Galileo (IRE))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: N Rawiller 57
5
8
Golden Path
- 5g Belardo (IRE) x Golden Destination (AUS) (Dubai Destination (USA))
Tnr: M Price & M Kent Jnr Rdr: C Schofield 59
6
11.2
Al Mubhir
- 6g Frankel (GB) x Muffri'ha (IRE) (Iffraaj (GB))
Tnr: W J Haggas Rdr: T Marquand 59
More Reading...
Via Sistina Leads Waller Trifecta in G1 Verry Elleegant Stakes
The Group I $1million ATC Verry Elleegant Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday was always going to be won by a Chris Waller trained runner when talented gelding Ceolwulf was scratched on the morning of the race and it was the favourite Via Sistina (IRE), who did best in a titanic battle to shade her stablemates Fangirl and Lindermann.
Femminile gives Dundeel first female G1 winner with Derby victory
Supersire Dundeel has his second G1 South Australian Derby winner and his first female G1 winner after his courageous daughter Femminile was too good for the boys at Morphettville this afternoon in the time honoured 2500m Classic.
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.
Libertad Back To Winning Form in G2 Victory Stakes
It had been a while between drinks but Russian Revolution stallion Libertad found his way back to winning form in the Group II Victory Stakes (1200m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
$1.1million Fastnet Filly a New SW for Sheamus Mills Bloodstock
Tara Talks Racing podcast listeners would have taken notice of the Listed SAJC Adelaide Guineas (1600m) at Morphettville on Saturday featuring $1.1million Fastnet Rock filly On Display.
First Stakes Winner for Cool Aza Beel
Newhaven Park’s Cool Aza Beel produced his first stakes winner when two-year-old colt Cool Archie won the Listed Dalrello Stakes (1000m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
So You Think He’s Tough- Punch Lane Wins G3 Hawkesbury Gold Cup
Backing up for a third Saturday in a row, super fit So You Think gelding Punch Lane booked his place in the $3million Big Dance later this year when leading all the way to win the $250,000 Group III Hawkesbury Gold Cup (1600m) on Saturday.
Via Sistina Dominant in G1 Champions Stakes
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.
Sires With Winners - Saturday May 3
Here is the full list of 113 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Waller Glamour Mares G1 Winx Stakes Trifecta
Yulong paid 2.7million guineas for top class Group I winning mare Via Sistina (IRE) at the Tattersalls Mares Sale last year and she was worth every penny with the glamour daughter of Fastnet Rock leading home a thrilling trifecta for the stable in the Group I ATC Winx Stakes (1400m) at Randwick when she outpointed established stable stars Zougotcha and Fangirl.