Chris Waller is full of praise for his star mare Via Sistina as she builds towards another high-profile campaign, with her return to racing slated for the Winx Stakes (1400m) on August 23 at Randwick.
The reigning Cox Plate winner, Via Sistina has been a standout performer over the past year, racking up seven Group 1 victories during a stellar 2024/25 season, including last year’s Winx Stakes triumph.
Waller confirmed that the imported mare is progressing well ahead of a scheduled barrier trial on July 22 and couldn’t hide his satisfaction with her current condition.
“She’s come back great,” Waller said. “She’s had an amazing 12 months, and like her whole demeanour has changed. She’s a really imposing sort of horse and she just seems to have so much purpose about life now.
“I’m not saying she’s better, but she just presents better, she looks great.
“I think mares take a long time to acclimatise and I think she’s finally acclimatised, which is great.
“Again, I stress it’s not going to say she’s going to be better but, gee, she has come back well.
“So she will just resume in the Winx Stakes, all going to plan. She’s still got to have two trials first.”
Via Sistina is likely to follow the same path as last spring, with Waller hinting at a Melbourne campaign following her Sydney return. That route would take her through the Makybe Diva Stakes, Turnbull Stakes, and ultimately the Cox Plate.
“We might look at the Makybe Diva (after the Winx Stakes),” Waller said. “If she didn’t have a second run in Sydney, she’ll go to the Makybe Diva, Turnbull and Cox Plate.”
Her autumn form was just as commanding, notching another three Group 1 wins in the Verry Elleegant Stakes, Ranvet Stakes and Queen Elizabeth Stakes after running third in the Apollo Stakes first-up.
Waller is also preparing for a strong showing in Victoria’s season-opening Group 1, the Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield, set for a week after the Winx Stakes. He confirmed American imports Moira, Full Count Felicia and Anisette were options for that race or the P.B. Lawrence Stakes (1400m).
“In the Winx Stakes, we could have Aeliana, Fangirl, Lady Shenandoah and Via Sistina,” he said. “We could either hold one back for the Memsie or we’ve got a few of those Group 1 winners from America – Moira, Full Count Felicia, Anisette – they could go there because they are better racing that way around as well.”
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