'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 in a record time, prompting bookmarkers to promote her to favourite for the Melbourne Cup on November 5. 

James McDonald falls from Via Sistina during trackwork at Moonee Valley on TuesdayCredit: Scott Barbour

The 4-1 shot powered clear exiting the final bend and streaked home by eight lengths from the Japanese-based favourite Prognosis, with McDonald standing up in the stirrups and celebrating before the line, for which Racing Victoria stewards fined him £1000.

The penalty failed to dampen a magical 100th Group 1 victory for the Kiwi jockey, who notched his third consecutive success in the Cox Plate following wins on Anamoe in 2022 and Romantic Warrior last year.

This year's victory was not only visually impressive but 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 after being based previously with George Boughey, with whom she won the 2023 Pretty Polly Stakes.

Via Sistina: broke the track record held by superstar mare WinxCredit: Robert Cianflone

The Fastnet Rock mare proved a class apart from 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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