One of two winners out of the unraced Galileo mare Nigh, Via Sistina was pointed towards the Cox Plate after a brilliant win in the Gr.1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington. In the opinion of Chris Waller, the Plate distance would be more suitable for her racing style if she were to perform well again in Melbourne.

Sold as a yearling by Jamie Railton to Stephen Hillen Bloodstock at the Tattersalls December Yearling Sale in 2019 for 5,000 guineas (US$6,751), and then bought as a G1 winning racemare to compete under the Yulong banner for 2.7 million guineas (A$5.6 million) at the 2023 Tattersalls December Mares Sale four years later, Via Sistina has now more than recouped that purchase price, with her earnings breaching AU$8.5 million. The UK import purchased from the George Broughey's stable proved to be somewhat of a revelation down under. VIA SISTINA continued her spectacular season by downing stablemate Buckaroo with a sustained run down the final stretch guided by Damien Lane, displaying just how versatile the mare actually is.

BUCKAROO would run 2nd in the Caulfield Cup over 2400m, but both Fastnet Rock bred thoroughbreds were exceptional in the spring of 2024. VIA SISTINA was the star of the Waller Rosehill stable during the 2024 season, winning the Gr.1 Winx Stakes (1600m) at Randwick in August before battling on the Heavy Flemington track in the Maykbe Diva Stakes, then bouncing back in dominant fashion in the Turnbull. With 8 wins from 18 starts and over $3.5 million in earnings at that point, we could only imagine how much more the mare had to offer. However, she was impressing as a gifted horse, able to go through gaps and pick up pace rapidly over distance.

In the Cox Plate around the tight Valley circuit, James McDonald positioned the mare travelling near the rear, before the six-year-old moved to the front with ease approaching the home turn, sweeping past the highly rated Japanese favourite Prognosis (Deep Impact) like he was a bush maiden, and streaked home to win Moonee Valley’s famed weight-for-age feature with consummate ease. In a week full of drama (where JMac fell of the horse in trackwork), Via Sistina was able to put all that behind her in a Cox Plate demolition, putting a world-class field to the sword in her eight-length win.

The clock was officially stopped at 2:01.07. No horse had ever gone faster. Not Winx. Not So You Think. Not Sunline, or Northerly, or Might And Power, or Better Loosen Up. Jockey James McDonald earned a $2,000 fine for his, rising to stand in the irons at the 50-metre mark then crossing the line bolt upright while whirring his free fist, yelling home his 100th Group 1 victory. It was a stunning win and the most impressive in Australia since Pride Of Jenni ran away to win the Queen Elizabeth the season prior. VIA SISTINA beat that 121-rated horse by 16-lengths in the Cox Plate.

Every man and his dog were then led to believe VIA SISTINA would start in the Melbourne Cup two weeks later and win easily, however Chris Waller was only interested in what was best for the horse and rejected the idea of a tough two mile challenge so soon after such a massive victory. Instead the team set a target for the Gr.1 Champion Stakes (2000m) at Flemington. Sent out a prohibitive $1.60 favourite, the 7-year-old laid any doubts to rest in another awe-inspiring win - albeit not in the Cox Plate realm, ranging up from near the back of the 11-horse field at the turn and coming away easily to score by 2¾ lengths under James McDonald. Via Sistina settled well back in the field under a supremely confident James McDonald. She spotted the lead eight lengths approaching the home bend. Five on straightening, and won with McDonald standing in the irons to salute a pulsating crowd of 62,022.

RACE RECORD - 21: 10-4-2

EARNINGS - $8,557,239

G1 Champion Stakes

G1 Cox Plate

G1 Turnbull Stakes

G1 Winx Stakes

G1 Ranvet Stakes

G1 Pretty Polly Stakes (GB)

G2 Dahlia Stskes (GB)

G3 Prix Fillie de l'air (FR)

The imported mare proved to be a sensational galloper down under when winning the Cox Plate in record time