Reigning Australian Horse of the Year Via Sistina has had a change to her spring campaign and will contest the Makybe Diva Stakes (G1) at Flemington Racecourse Sept. 13. The mare was meant to trial Sept. 9 ahead next week's 7 Stakes (G1) at Randwick, but the Makybe Diva was put back on the radar after it was confirmed that fellow Yulong-owned mare Treasurethe Moment would miss the race after suffering from a mild bout of colic Sept. 8. Trainer Chris Waller confirmed plans for Via Sistina an hour before she was scheduled to trial at Rosehill.
"Via Sistina will not trial this morning and will instead race in the Makybe Diva Stakes this Saturday at Flemington," Waller said Tuesday. "She galloped well this morning and I am happy with her fitness levels. James McDonald will take the ride and Damian Lane will ride Aeliana."
Via Sistina and Aeliana drew posts 2 and 5, respectively, in the six-horse field.
Gollan Hoping Antino Can Dictate Makybe Diva
Tony Gollan is banking on Antino's jockey Blake Shinn to not allow the Makybe Diva to be turned into a sprint for home. With just six horses confirmed for this weekend's 1,600-meter (about one-mile) contest, Gollan is hoping that his dual group 1 winner can add to his already impressive second-up record of four wins and a placing from six starts.
"I don't think Blake would allow it to be a sit and sprint," Gollan told The Verdict podcast. "If it's going to be like that, Blake would want to up the pressure a little way out. He (Antino) is not really a sit and sprint sort of horse. Blake does his own homework. He knows what he is doing. He knows what the horse can do. We know he's not the fastest horse in the race, our bloke, but he can sustain a good gallop."
Tom Kitten bidding to get back on track
Sam Freedman is hoping that new stable recruit Tom Kitten can bounce back when he lines up in Saturday's race. The Godolphin homebred was scratched at the barriers before the Memsie Stakes (G1) last month and is likely to be in need of this weekend's first-up run.
"He will improve for the run, no doubt," Freedman, who trains in partnership with his father Anthony, told Racing.com. "He is obviously stepping out at the mile, first-up. It's not going to be an easy task, taking on those two Waller mares, but I'm sure he'll be closing off well. I'm not sure a small field really suits him. He probably would appreciate a bit of tempo and being able to be smothered up and work through them, much like he did a couple of times at Flemington before. I think Saturday, for us, is really just about making sure he is back on track."
Freedman revealed that, all being well, Tom Kitten would go on to the Turnbull Stakes (G1) Oct. 4 before a crack at the Cox Plate (G1).
"His record at Flemington is impeccable, so you'd be silly not to be keeping there, when you can," he said. "We'll get through Saturday and then we can make a plan. There are so many options for a horse, like him. That is the beauty of this time of year. The Cox Plate is still front of mind."
