2024 Ladbrokes Cox Plate winning mare Via Sistina

No 2024 Melbourne Cup for Via Sistina, McDonald Left Without Ride

Lucy Henderson October 30, 2024

No 2024 Melbourne Cup for Via Sistina, McDonald Left Without Ride

The call has been made not to test Chris Waller‘s mighty mare Via Sistina over the two miles of the 2024 Melbourne Cup with connections opting to keep her to 2000m for the Group 1 $3 million Champions Sprint (2000m).

With the original 56kg topweight Via Sistina officially out of contention for this year’s Group 1 $8.56 million Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) on Tuesday, it is the Willie Mullins-trained Irish raider Vauban carrying the new topweight of 55.5kg with William Buick in the saddle.

Jockey James McDonald has been left without a Melbourne Cup ride in 2024

“The Cox Plate has always been her main target, to win it is nothing short of a dream,” Yulong Investments, owners of the eight-length Cox Plate champion, said on social media.

“Following this peak performance and after much consideration, it has been decided she will not contest the 2024 Melbourne Cup.”

Jockey James McDonald, who rode Verry Elleegant to victory for the Waller stable in 2021, was on standby to partner Via Sistina in the Melbourne Cup but has been left without a ride in the 164th edition of the ‘Race That Stops a Nation’.

So You Think (2010) was the last horse to complete the Cox Plate – Champions Stakes in the same year.

Via Sistina is already odds-on at $1.75 in pre-field 2024 Champions Stakes betting at Ladbrokes.com.au to win the November 9 showdown at Flemington.

Waller still has a very strong hand in the likely 24-horse Melbourne Cup field led by the $5 Buckaroo who comes off a second in the Caulfield Cup.

The final Melbourne Cup horses are nearly set with only this afternoon’s Group 3 Bendigo Cup (2400m) to have a potential impact as Harry Eustace’s UK raider Sea King looks to win and secure a spot.

The official 2024 Lexus Melbourne Cup final field and barrier draw will be announced post-racing on Victoria Derby Day this Saturday.

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