Via Sistina wins 2nd Champions Stakes
Dual Cox Plate winner on fire, Ceolwulf and Giga Kick complete Champions Day trifecta
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Chris Waller's champion mare Via Sistina (James McDonald) stamping her class at Flemington to go back-to-back in the Group 1 Champions Stakes (2,000m) on Nov 8. The Yulong-owned galloper has now taken her Group 1 tally to 12.
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MELBOURNE Via Sistina has won her 12th race at Group 1 level with a typically dominant performance, going back-to-back in the A$3 million (S$2.5 million) Group 1 Champions Stakes (2,000m) at Flemington on Nov 8.
The heavy conditions did not faze the reigning Australian horse of the year, who tracked up three-wide with cover under James McDonald before putting her rivals away in effortless fashion.
Sent around as the $8 favourite, Via Sistina came clear to win by 2¾ lengths ahead of surprise packet Zambardo (Jamie Melham), who was officially rated 78 before Nov 8, with Tom Kitten (Ben Melham) just edging out Pier (Ethan Brown) for third.
After Via Sistina won her second straight Group 1 W S Cox Plate (2,040m) the start prior, Chris Waller said it was ‘awesome’ to see the Fastnet Rock eight-year-old mare do her thing again as she nears the twilight of her career.
“She was tough today. She went back from the draw, James didn’t panic and it was awesome to see her in the straight,” said Waller.
The 15-time Sydney champion trainer praised Yulong Investments who brought Via Sistina to Australia in 2024, saying the day was a great spectacle for racing fans.
“They (Yulong) are sportsmen, they love their racing. I knew not to ask because I knew they’d have liked her to race here. It was as simple as that,” he said.
“They have given the racing public something to cheer for and what a great day it’s been with Ceolwulf, Giga Kick and now Via Sistina. Three serious horses on an amazing day of racing.”
Ceolwulf (Chad Schofield) and Giga Kick (Mark Zahra) were the other two heroes on Champions Day, which brings the curtain down on the Melbourne Cup Carnival.
After landing the Group 1 King Charles III Stakes (1,609m) at his last start, the Joseph Pride-trained Ceolwulf ($25) conjured up another gut-busting effort to overhaul Pericles (Ben Melham) by a nose in the A$3 million Group 1 Champions Mile (1,600m).
It was another finish for the ages in the A$3 million Group 1 Champions Sprint (1,200m) when trainer Clayton Douglas’ former champion sprinter Giga Kick ($13) bulldogged his way to a stirring head-win from Magic Time (Michael Dee). RACING AND SPORTS
