Australian Star Via Sistina Repeats in Winx Stakes

Australasia's reigning queen of the turf, Via Sistina (IRE), dug deep Aug. 23 on a heavy Randwick course to secure back-to-back victories in the 1,400-meter Winx Stakes (G1). Having her first start since victory in April's 2000-meter Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1), the Cox Plate (G1) heroine—who equalled Winx's record of seven group 1s for a season in the autumn—was made to fight for her tenth elite-level triumph in the AU$1 million feature by her burgeoning stablemate Aeliana (NZ). The latter, one of six Chris Waller-trained runners in the race, loomed inside the final 100 meters, only for Via Sistina's class to tell once again as she stretched to prevail by just over a neck under a composed ride from James McDonald. Finishing another 1 1/2 lengths behind in third was Arapaho (FR). Waller recalled memories of Winx's victory in the 2017 edition of the then Warwick Stakes, when she had to call on every ounce of her ability to reel in stablemate Foxplay (Foxwedge). "It was almost a Foxplay moment, wasn't it?" the champion trainer said. "We've got a couple of decent mares on our hands. Via Sistina is a champion, but Aeliana will get her time to shine." Waller had been vocal throughout the week about his concerns with the heavy conditions given Randwick's recent struggles with wet weather. Post-race, he stressed the need for racing administrators to protect Sydney's premier tracks during the winter months to avoid compromising the spring campaigns of Australia's elite horses. "I didn't have a doubt we could run today. My doubt was, where are we after today? In two weeks' time, four weeks' time?" Waller said. Having reaffirmed her status as the horse to beat this spring, Via Sistina is now on course to follow a similar program to last year, with the Makybe Diva Stakes (G1) at Flemington a possible next target before a defence of her Cox Plate crown at The Valley in October. "She's more than likely going to Melbourne for her second-up run," Waller confirmed. "We'll sit down with the owners, but everything is geared toward the Cox Plate again." McDonald admitted that Aeliana gave him a scare late, but said the win confirmed Via Sistina, a daughter of Fastnet Rock (AUS), had lost none of her edge. "Gee, the second horse was great," the winning rider said. "I could see the shadow and couldn't think what it would be. She gave me a hell of a fright. But even if we went another furlong, I think I would have held her. It was a pleasant race to ride. "Nice for her [Via Sistina] to come back as good as she left off. It worked out really well. The deeper into her prep she goes, the better she will go. It's good signs ahead." On the impressive performance of the runner-up in weight-for-age company for the first time, jockey Jason Collett said: "She's very exciting. She was a bit fresh and tardy out of the gates, which didn't help, but she challenged a very good winner."