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The queen of the turf and soon to be crowned Australian Racehorse of the Year, Via Sistina, continued to show off her Winx-like qualities securing her 10th Group 1 win with an outstanding win fresh in Saturday’s Winx Stakes 2025 results at Royal Randwick.
Despite concerns over the Heavy (10) track for the spring’s opening elite level Via Sistina, who had eased out to $2.80 at time of jump, outclassed a quality field once again when holding off her brave ATC Derby winning stablemate Aeliana with the Sydney Cup champ Arapaho running out of his skin for third in this year’s Group 1 $1 million Winx Stakes (1400m).
“She is very good. I can get emotional with the last lot. It is a big race to win,” Waller said.
“I did [have pre-race doubts]. Just for their safety. But full credit to the team. In fact, I didn’t have doubt that we could run today. My doubt was where are we after today for two weeks’ time/four weeks’ time. I just want the curators Michael Wood, who does a fantastic job, Nevesh Ramdhani, they have an awesome team under them. We went and walked the track before, and it is safe. They have a great track.
“I want to help them in July and just try and believe them, so they have fresh ground to work with. These horses are worth so much money. And the punters put so much into it week in week out to have the best surface.
“They have to have Via Sistina not just winning today, they need Via Sistina being second up, third up and the horses behind her. They have to come through the race. Today is like a really tough Grand Final first up.”
The reigning Ladbrokes Cox Plate champion mare proved her versatility over any distance under any conditions when strolling home to defend her title and become the first dual Winx Stakes winner since the stable’s three-peat with the great Winx (2016-18).
Historically, Via Sistina became the first eight-year-old mare in 80 years to win a Group 1.
Having her first start since her Group 1 Queen Elizabeth win at the track back in April, the equine superstar was second last into stride with Robusto leading the field around.
James McDonald went to the rails and improved his position while still settling back in the pack.
Her stablemate Aeliana, who beat the boys by five lengths in the Australian Derby over the autumn as a three-year-old, was also taken inside by jockey Jason Collett who gave her a rails-hugging ride for her four-year-old debut.
Once on the home straight, the gap opened up perfectly for Via and J-Mac 350m out from the line and the dynamic duo were quick to shoot through and hit the front.
She had to dig deep the closing stages however with Aeliana also rallying late and racing well on her inside to push the favourite all the way to the finishing post.
“Gee the second horse was great,” McDonald said of Aeliana.
“I could see the shadow, and I couldn’t think what it would be. I was thinking I have quickened up beautifully and she gave me a hell of a fright.
“If I went another furlong I would win by a neck anyway. A great effort by a young mare like that. A pleasant race to ride.”
Having saved the ground and got the dream run, Via Sistina’s class kicked in and she strolled through the line to finish 0.36 lengths ahead.
“Nice for her to come back as good as she left off last time. It worked out really well I think,” McDonald said.
“The deeper in her prep she goes, the better she will go. It is good signs ahead that she has returned in good order with great enthusiasm.”
Adding value to the Winx Stakes trifecta was the eye-catching run from Bjorn Baker‘s returning Sydney Cup champ Arapaho ($26) who ran under two lengths back third relishing the muddy conditions.
“Unbelievable first up run. He’s only had one trial and heavy track. He’s all horse,” Rachel King said after the ride on the veteran nine-year-old.
In a luckless and forgivable first-up fourth was the well-backed Ceolwulf who was last in the run and lost ground at a crucial stage with far too much to do forced out wide with improvement to come this campaign.
“Huge run. We didn’t want to be back there. He missed the start again, something he can do. Rattled home, nothing has made up ground from back and wide like he has. Enormous,” jockey Chad Schofield said of Ceolwulf.
Via Sistina is now top of the markets for a host of upcoming Group 1 spring features including a potential next-up assignment at Flemington in the Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) on September 13 where she’ll be out to atone for her distant fifth to Mr Brightside on Heavy going last year.
Her major aim however will be shooting for back-to-back victories in the Group 1 $6 million Ladbrokes Cox Plate (2040m) at The Valley on October 25.
Her all-in price in Cox Plate betting at race sponsor Ladbrokes.com.au has firmed in from $2.80 to $2.10.
| 9. Via Sistina (1) J: James McDonald57kg 3111xT: Chris Waller | ||
| 12. Aeliana (2) J: Jason Collett56.5kg 3421xT: Chris Waller | ||
| 4. Arapaho (4) J: Rachel King59kg 5241xT: Bjorn Baker | ||
| 2. Ceolwulf (7) J: Chad Schofield59kg 5315xT: Joseph Pride | ||
| 3. Gringotts (9) J: Tommy Berry59kg x310xT: Ciaron Maher | ||
| 7. War Eternal (5) J: Dylan Gibbons59kg 5x821T: Bjorn Baker | ||
| 6. Robusto (8) J: Josh Parr59kg 2x021T: Bjorn Baker | ||
| 11. Full Count Felicia (10) J: Adam Hyeronimus57kg 17x4xT: Chris Waller | ||
| 8. Diamond Diesel (3) J: Andrew Adkins59kg 00926T: Adam Duggan | ||
| 5. Lindermann (11) J: Nash Rawiller59kg 2490xT: Chris Waller | ||
| 1. Light Infantry Man (6) J: Ethan Brown59kg 6310xT: Ciaron Maher |
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