'It was a Winx-like performance' - Via Sistina shrugs off workout drama to smash course record in Cox Plate

At the start of the week it was uncertain Via Sistina would even compete in the Ladbrokes Cox Plate but by Saturday she proved all her doubters wrong with a dazzling victory in the valuable Group 1 contest at Moonee Valley in Australia.

The six-year-old's bid for a fifth top-level strike was thrown into peril after a disastrous public workout on Tuesday at Moonee Valley, where she unshipped jockey James McDonald before running loose for nearly three laps of the track.

However, she shrugged off any ill effects from the mishap to fly home in the A$3 million (£1.5 million) event, pulling clear before hitting the home straight and streaking home by eight lengths from the Japanese-based favourite Prognosis.

James McDonald falls after Via Sistina threw him off during Breakfast with the Best trackwork at Moonee Valley on TuesdayCredit: Scott Barbour

McDonald was standing up in his stirrups well before the line and revelled in his third consecutive success in the Cox Plate, having won on Anamoe in 2022 and Romantic Warrior last year. 

The victory was a memorable 100th Group 1 strike for the Kiwi jockey and smashed the course record at the Melbourne track, with Via Sistina coming home almost two seconds quicker than the previous record holder Winx, Australia's star mare and four-time Cox Plate winner. 

"It was a Winx-like performance. I can't believe it," McDonald told Racing.com. "I'm just so lucky. What this mare has been through; she's just an absolute star. I'm so lucky to be a part of it.

"I love this race, I love this place. To win a Cox Plate with Chris Waller, who is my biggest supporter, is special. I am blessed. So blessed."

Via Sistina has thrived since moving to Waller's operation in Australia this year having been with George Boughey, with whom she won the 2023 Pretty Polly Stakes.

Docklands: Cox Plate fifth will head to Flemington in two weeks' timeCredit: Alex Davidson

The 4-1 shot was promoted to favourite for the Melbourne Cup on November 5 after finishing well clear of her eight rivals, which included British raider Docklands, who fought for the placings under Blake Shinn but was pipped by Broadsiding and Mr Brightside to finish fifth. 

"It looked like we were coming with a run to be a nice third but he hasn't raced for a while and I think he has got a bit tired the last 200 metres," said trainer Harry Eustace. 

"Asking him to really quicken and work around the bend into the straight probably wouldn't have been ideal, either. We'll see how he is in the morning but the plan would very much now be to run at Flemington in two weeks' time. 

"We'll put him in the mile and the 2,000-metre [ten-furlong] races but I think we'll keep him to this distance, although I would be very happy either way. I think it was more fitness than him not staying today."

The result concluded a fraught few days for the Newmarket trainer after Docklands was forced to pass an additional vet inspection on Saturday morning. 

"The last 24 hours have been stressful but I feel better after that," Eustace added. "It has been an unbelievable experience. They love their racing here and it has been fantastic to be part of it. We were competitive, which is really all we could have asked."

Read more...

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