On a night where expectations were sky-high, Via Sistina justified every bit of the hype, with the Yulong-owned and Chris Waller-trained star sealing Victorian Horse Of The Year honours in a fashion reminiscent of her unforgettable Cox Plate triumph.
Her campaign for the title began with a setback when she finished unplaced in her Victorian debut, the Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington last September. However, within seven weeks, she had surged into a commanding position for the honour.
Via Sistina then lined up in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington, where she battled gamely to defeat Buckaroo, reigniting her Cox Plate ambitions.
Her defining moment came at The Valley, just four days after an incident in which she parted ways with James McDonald and galloped loose for two laps of the track. Unfazed, she returned to produce the performance of her career, powering to an eight-length demolition in the Cox Plate.
Two weeks later, she returned to Flemington and proved that display was no fluke, cruising to a near four-length victory in the Champions Stakes (2000m).
Her tally of seven Group 1 wins for the season equalled the benchmark set by champion mare Winx in her standout 2018/19 campaign, when she also travelled to Melbourne to win the Turnbull Stakes and a fourth Cox Plate.
In securing the award, Via Sistina triumphed over the resilient Mr Brightside and the unbeaten three-year-old Treasurethe Moment, who boasts an unbroken eight-race winning streak. She polled 79 votes from a panel of industry experts and racing media, with Mr Brightside and Treasurethe Moment both collecting 40 points.
Via Sistina’s accolade follows 12 months after Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup hero Without A Fight claimed the same honour.