‘Could be anything this season': Legendary hoops Shane Dye, Malcolm Johnston, Corey Brown and Jim Cassidy pick their spring stars
This was the consensus of former champion jockeys Shane Dye, Corey Brown, Malcolm Johnston and Jim Cassidy who know a thing or two about what makes an elite racehorse.
The retired riding greats won more than 300 Group 1 races between them, most won Sydney jockey premierships and have Hall of Fame honours, and each rode their share of champions.
Shane Dye, winner of 96 Group 1 races including four successive Golden Slippers, is never afraid to voice an opinion and maintains Australia's best sprinters are racing for second behind Hong Kong's Ka Ying Rising in the $20 million The Everest this spring.
'Ka Ying Rising is a champion and I don't use that term very often,'' Dye said.
'He can use his speed at both ends of a race and still have the ability to quicken under pressure.
'At his last start Zac (Purton, jockey) took a sit on Ka Ying Rising and his acceleration in the straight was incredible. He runs unbelievably fast times with ease.
'In The Everest, it won't matter where he draws, he will settle on speed and then put three lengths on them when Zac asks him to sprint. The only worry is if it is a wet track but I can't see him being beaten.''
"He's the Usain Bolt of the equine world!" âš¡
Ka Ying Rising DOMINATES in the Group 1 Chairman's Sprint Prize at Sha Tin! � pic.twitter.com/qjXhi0cFBf
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 27, 2025
•
Dye is also adamant Horse of the Year-elect Via Sistina won't be seriously challenged at weight-for-age this spring, either.
'The trouble is that Australia's weight-for-age ranks are very thin and we don't have the geldings racing on like we did when I was riding,'' Dye said.
'Our weight-for-age stars are mainly mares these days and Via Sistina is just better than the others.
'But if there is one horse that no one has really noticed that could emerge this season it is Leica Lucy.
'She had outstanding New Zealand form last season and should have won the ATC Australian Oaks. She is a mare I will be following closely.''
We don't just like her, we love her! Leica Lucy wins the Oaks!
In the @AlBasti NZ Oaks from @Racing_at_RACE, it's our filly of the year, trained by @PattersonStable & ridden by @CraigGrylls
She now goes to Aus (@cwallerracing) and we'll watch her fly the flag with pride. 🇳🇿➡�🇦🇰 pic.twitter.com/sTEXlcN6ut
— Trackside NZ (@TracksideNZ) March 22, 2025
Corey Brown, the expert Sky Thoroughbred Central commentator who rode 49 Group 1 winners before a back injury prematurely ended his outstanding riding career, is adamant the Chris Waller -trained mare Lady Shenandoah is racing's 'next big thing'.
'If I was still riding, I would want to be on Lady Shenandoah this spring,'' Brown said.
'I know her stablemate, Autumn Glow, is all the rage but I really like the look of Lady Shenandoah.
'She was unbeaten in five starts last season but was nowhere near the finished product. She had a lot of maturing to do so I expect we will see her continuing to improve this season.
'Lady Shenandoah will be hard to beat in anything up to a mile at least. A race like the Golden Eagle will be perfect for her.''
Brown said Waller would be trying his best to keep the likes of Lady Shenandoah and Autumn Glow on separate paths to his champion mare Via Sistina this spring.
'I liked the way Via Sistina trialled the other day, she looked so big and strong and did it so easily,'' Brown said.
'I'm not going to say she has come back better than ever, but she doesn't need to be better to still be dominant at weight-for-age again this spring.''
The champ Via Sistina claims the G1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes with ease, equalling Winx's record of 7 Group 1's in a season! 🤩 What a mare! @cwallerracing | @mcacajamez | @YulongInvest | @aus_turf_club | @WorldPool pic.twitter.com/oMBNGpAyv8
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 12, 2025
•
Johnston, the jockey they called 'Miracle Mal' and best known as the rider of one of the all-time greats, Kingston Town, was taken by the emergence of the Team Hawkes-trained colt, Nepotism, winner of the Champagne Stakes last season.
'Nepotism could be anything this season,'' Johnston declared.
'There's a number of very promising three-year-olds but if I had my choice of rides it would be Nepotism.''
A huge win for Nepotism in the G1 Champagne Stakes, coming from last! ðŸ'° @G1TySchil | @HawkesRacing | @aus_turf_club pic.twitter.com/moZrj6EBgx
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 19, 2025
Johnston was also convinced Via Sistina would continue her dominance of weight-for-age racing after winning a record-equalling seven Group 1 races last season including the Cox Plate - Queen Elizabeth Stakes double.
'I just don't see any real threats to Via Sistina,'' Johnston said. 'I know she isn't getting any younger but she looked as good as ever in her trial the other day.
'What Via Sistina has in her favour is she's trained by Chris Waller and owned by Yulong and they look after their horses so well.''
Hall of Famer Jim 'The Pumper' Cassidy was only interested in talking about one horse – Via Sistina.
'The only horse I would want to ride this spring is Via Sistina,'' said Cassidy, winner of 104 Group 1 races including the Grand Slam of Australian racing, the Melbourne Cup (twice), Caulfield Cup (twice), Cox Plate and Golden Slipper.
'She is a champion mare and I don't think there is anything coming through that can beat her.
'With these outstanding mares, when they are 'on' they are just about unbeatable and there is no sign of her coming back to the field yet.
'If Via Sistina is still at the top of her game this spring, then it will be daylight second.''
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