After her complete domination in the Group 1 Cox Plate at Moonee Valley Racecourse on Saturday, everyone wants to know what is next for Chris Waller’s Via Sistina. Her owners, Yulong Investments, say that they are not quite sure which race to enter the seven-year-old in next.
The Group 1 Melbourne Cup at Flemington Racecourse on 5 November is possible. A trip to Sha Tin Racecourse on 8 December for the Hong Kong Cup is also an option.
After a major setback midweek where Via Sistina threw jockey James McDonald off her back and ran wildly for two laps during a trial run at Moonee Valley, the seven-year-old delivered on Saturday.
The Chris Waller-trained mare and her jockey McDonald absolutely destroyed the rest of the Cox Plate competition.
Via Sistina took the lead with around 350m left to go and never looked back. With 150m left, she had a five-length lead.
In the end, Via Sistina ($5) won by a remarkable eight lengths over betting sites favourite Prognosis and a full ten lengths ahead of Broadsiding ($6.50), who finished in third.
Via Sistina’s win was the first time since 2021 that the favourite failed tow win the Cox Plate. The mare also tied the record for the largest margin of victory in a Cox Plate run. Her time was a new course record for Moonee Valley in the Cox Plate, beating out four-time winner Winx’s 2017 time by close to two seconds.
Trainer Chris Waller remained confident about Via Sistina’s, even after her setback. But even he said the impressive win was overwhelming.
“It was a big week, but I’ve just had full support from the owners, my staff, all the team, Moonee Valley. It’s just been overwhelming.
“There’s not been any negativity, only positive vibes. I’m so proud of her, so proud of her,” he said.
Waller couldn’t explain why he was so sure his mare would win.
“There were probably 10 key factors, and it’s not anything else except common sense, simple as that,” he said.
“We never lost faith and just followed our instincts.”
After such a big win, Via Sistina’s team say they are going to be deliberate about where she runs next.
Racing in the Cox Plate was an easy decision, but where to start her next will “definitely tougher decision than this one,” says Yulong Investments’ General Manager, Vin Cox.
“We want to let her settle down, get back on solid ground, and clear our heads before we make the call,” Cox continued.
When asked on whether the Melbourne Cup could be Via Sistina’s next race, the Yulong Investments man said they are in no rush to confirm the mare’s place at Flemington.
Via Sistina can race in the Cup if she wants it, but Cox says “There’s no rush right now; she’s in the race, so we’ll take the time we need."
The horse racing betting odds currently have Via Sistina as the Melbourne Cup favourite with $5.50 chances to win.
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