Via Sistina dazzles again as former British star continues her sensational spring with Flemington romp

Via Sistina gave international handicappers further food for thought ahead of deliberations on her place among the world's best racehorses by following up an astonishing Cox Plate triumph with a dominant success in the Melbourne Cup Carnival's final Group 1.

Just two weeks after thrashing her Cox Plate opponents by upwards of eight lengths and smashing Winx's course record by almost two seconds, the one-time British-trained mare stormed up the Flemington home straight to win the £1.6 million TAB Champions Stakes by two and three-quarter lengths. The Harry Eustace-trained Docklands performed respectably in sixth.

Trainer Chris Waller and Via Sistina's Yulong owners considered a tilt at Tuesday's Melbourne Cup but ultimately opted to take a more conventional route with a six-year-old who made headlines four days before the Cox Plate by unshipping James McDonald and running loose for two and a half laps of Moonee Valley.

"We're not used to going into the unknown but that's where she went on her last start," said Waller, who made a case for last year's Ascot Champion Stakes second contending for the title of Longines World's Best Racehorse, an award whose latest standings are announced on Thursday.

"She is right up there," said Waller. "She has done amazing things. She won her first start in Australia, she won a Winx Stakes over 1,400 metres, she won a Turnbull and she won a Cox Plate, breaking the track record by a big margin. Now she's backed it up here today. Take out her only defeat, which was on a heavy track, and she has been unbeaten in Australia. That is pretty remarkable."

Mr Brightside and Craig Williams (right) come out on top in the VRC Champions MileCredit: Pat Scala/Racing Photos

Via Sistina's Cox Plate form had been boosted 40 minutes before her latest tour de force when Mr Brightside, beaten over ten lengths two weeks ago, fought tenaciously to win the VRC Champions Mile under Craig Williams. Last year's winner Pride Of Jenni was retired after finishing last.

"He is a sound horse, a happy horse and he keeps delivering on the big stage," said Mr Brightside's co-trainer Ben Hayes following the card's only Group 1 not won by McDonald, who had earlier bagged the Darley Champion Sprint for British-born joint-trainer Annabel Neasham on Sunshine In Paris. McDonald ended the day with a four-timer that took his 2024 Melbourne Cup Carnival haul to 11, one more than the record he set in 2021.

Sunshine In Paris seems unlikely to head to Royal Ascot but runner-up Right To Party could certainly make the journey alongside her part-owner's sprinter Isthmus, a Group 3 winner at Flemington last Saturday.

Munz, whose Giga Kick disappointed in the Champion Sprint, said: "I think you'll potentially see Right To Party and Isthmus at Royal Ascot. 

"Giga Kick is five lengths better than both of them but I wouldn't take him to Ascot. He's a gelding and there's too much money here, but if you win a Group race in Britain with a mare, you double her value."

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Yulong gets ready for Via Sistina's Saturday star turn with a Flemington Classic triumph 

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

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