Was it that Unusual? Who is the Oldest?

Tara Madgwick - Monday August 25

There was a lot of attention in the media regarding the age of Australian Horse of the Year elect Via Sistina (IRE) when she returned to racing for a new campaign at Randwick last Saturday, but was it really that uncommon to see an eight year-old G1 winner?

She may officially be the first 8YO mare to win an Aussie G1 win since Tranquil Star in 1945, but firstly she’s not technically eight given she was foaled in the Northern Hemisphere with her actual age by years being 7.41 years old.

Via Sistina (IRE) wins the G1 Winx Stakes  - image Bradley Photography

That 7.41 years puts her well down the list of oldest G1 winners in Australia in the past 20 years in about 41st place, but what is interesting is the horses at the top of the list.

Takeover Target won not one but two Group I races as a nine year-old and Fields of Omagh was nine when he won his second Cox Plate.

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Takoever Target wins the G1 TJ Smith in 2009 as a 9YO - image Bradley Photography

Other nine year-olds to win Group I races in the past 20 years are Who Shot Thebarman, Black Heart Bart, Zipping and Cascadian.

Few older mares race on past the age of six, but the G1 winners successful at the age of seven and beyond in the past 20 years outside of Via Sistina (IRE) are her stablemates Winx, Shillelagh and Atishu, as well as Bella Nipotina, Nettoyer and Etah James.

Australia’s Oldest G1 Winners in the Past 20 Years

Race date

Horse

Sire

Foaling date

Race

Age by years

2/05/2009

Takeover Target

Celtic Swing

27/09/1999

2009 Goodwood Stakes

-9.6

18/04/2009

Takeover Target

Celtwic Swing

27/09/1999

2009 T J Smith

-9.56

14/04/2018

Who Shot Thebarman

Yamanin Vital

2/11/2008

2018 Sydney Cup

-9.45

28/10/2006

Fields of Omagh

Rubiton

22/09/1997

2006 W S Cox Plate

-9.1

29/09/2019

Black Heart Bart

Blackfriars

11/09/2010

2019 Underwood Stakes

-9.05

3/10/2010

Zipping

Danehill

24/09/2001

2010 Turnbull Stakes

-9.03

30/03/2024

Cascadian

New Approach

26/03/2015

2024 Australian Cup

-9.02

25/04/2009

Ista Kareem

Germano

1/08/2000

2009 Sydney Cup

-8.74

21/05/2011

Scenic Shot

Scenic

16/09/2002

2011  Doomben Cup

-8.68

13/03/2010

Zipping

Danehill

24/09/2001

2010 Australian Cup

-8.47

4/03/2006

Fields of Omagh

Rubiton

22/09/1997

2006 Futurity Stks

-8.45

19/03/2011

Zavite

Zabeel

23/11/2002

2011 Ranvet Stakes

-8.32

2/03/2024

Think It Over

So You Think

8/11/2015

2024 Verry Elleegant Stakes

-8.32

11/03/2006

Roman Arch

Archway

8/01/1998

2006 Australian Cup

-8.18

12/04/2025

Arapaho

Lope De Vega

22/02/2017

2025 Sydney Cup

-8.14

21/11/2015

Buffering

Mossman

5/11/2007

2015 Winterbottom Stks

-8.05

31/03/2018

Almandin

Monsun

27/03/2010

2018  Tancred Stakes

-8.02

3/11/2012

Alcopop

Jeune

30/10/2004

2012 Mackinnon Stakes

-8.02

25/03/2023

Cascadian

New Approach

26/03/2015

2023  Australian Cup

-8

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