Latest news with #ViaSistina
News.com.au
4 days ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Via Sistina, Fangirl and more headline star-studded Randwick trials
The build up to Via Sistina's spring campaign is well and truly underway, with the nine-time Group 1 winner blowing out some cobwebs in a star-studded Randwick trial on Tuesday. It was Via Sistina 's first public appearance since claiming the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) on Day 2 of The Championships and she wasn't out there to break any records. Star stablemate Fangirl was also present in the 850m hit out and both were given quiet trials as Chris Waller aims them towards the Group 1 Winx Stakes (1400m) at Randwick next month. 'The 23rd of August they will be racing … if everything goes to plan,' Waller said. 'We allow an extra week just in case for a temperature or sore foot and things like that. 'Nine times out of 10 you need it and sometimes you will see them have an exhibition gallop if they haven't had a problem. 'It's just about being careful. You are a month away so you can imagine how much fitness is going to be done in the next month.' 1⃣ The Novelist 2⃣ More Territories 3⃣ Full Count Felicia The @GaiWaterhouse1 & Adrian Bott gelding too speedy in an 850m Kensington trial on Tuesday - behind them were Extractor, Zardozi, Tom Kitten, Fangirl and Via Sistina. @tabcomau — Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) July 21, 2025 The Novelist won the 850m hit out in a time of 51.48 seconds, covering the final 600m in 33.67s. Godolphin's Tom Kitten and Zardozi also featured in the trial – their final time heading to the races under the James Cummings banner. The second heat of the morning also featured a handful of Waller's spring brigade with Autumn Glow, Wodeton, Aeliana and Lazzura returning. The unbeaten Autumn Glow settled up on the pace and finished third in the 850m hit out, won by Palmetto in 51.20s. The last 600m was covered in 33.69s. 1⃣ Palmetto 2⃣ Beiwacht 3⃣ Autumn Glow Basically all the way for @jsargentracing 's Canberra Cup winner in the second 850m Kensington trial on Tuesday - also in this heat Manaal, Pericles, Wodeton, Lazzura and Aeliana. @tabcomau — Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) July 21, 2025 • Autumn Glow is headed towards the Group 1 Epsom Handicap, for which she's rated the $3.50 favourite in futures betting. 'She would resume in one of the sprint handicaps or set weight fillies and mares races to get to the Epsom third-up,' Waller said. Meanwhile, Waller has the Group 1 Golden Rose circled on the calendar for Wodeton, with that run to decide the rest of his spring campaign. 'He (Wodeton) looks like he has come back really well and we will go to the Golden Rose. 'Then it will be Coolmore or (Caulfield) Guineas but I think 1400m will suit him better. 'He will be ready to go before the Run To The Rose. 'We could run two or three weeks before, being up this early 'But because he went out after the Golden Slipper, they actually had a long break so he is up ready to go.' Nepotism at $4.
New Paper
4 days ago
- Sport
- New Paper
Via Sistina all tuned up as Spring campaign nears
SYDNEY Champion trainer Chris Waller said Via Sistina could follow a similar programme to last spring's, which saw the top mare land four Group 1 victories - the Winx Stakes (1,400m), the Turnbull Stakes (2,000m), the Cox Plate (2,040m) and the Champions Stakes (2,000m). The 2024-25 Australian Horse of the Year will make her first public appearance on the morning of July 22 when she steps out in the opening heat of 17 trials at Randwick. The 850m trial on the Kensington track has brought together a field of eight, which includes Via Sistina's stablemate and Group 1 Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1,600m) winner Fangirl, as well as two other Group 1 winners - Tom Kitten and Zardozi - trained by James Cummings. Waller is planning on having Via Sistina - the victor of the 2024 Winx Stakes - defend her title first-up in the Winx Stakes at Randwick on Aug 23. He will then look at bringing the Fastnet Rock seven-year-old to Melbourne to run in the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1,600m) at Flemington on Sept 13. Second-up at her Spring campaign in 2024, Via Sistina ran fifth to Mr Brightside in the Makybe Diva on Sept 14, but she followed up with a consecutive Group 1-winning spree at her next three starts in Melbourne; taking out the Turnbull Stakes, the Cox Plate and the Champion Stakes. The mare then raced exclusively in Sydney during the autumn, collecting three more Group 1 successes: the Verry Elleegant Stakes (1,600m) on March 1, the Ranvet Stakes (2,000m) on March 22 and the Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2,000m) at her last run on April 12. Waller said he would discuss the options with Via Sistina's owners, Yulong Investments, as to what plans they have for the nine-time Group 1 winner - who ran in Ireland and UK before kicking off her career in Australia in 2024 - and potentially avoid any clashes with their other horses. "She has come back well. She has come back stronger than she has been," said Waller. "I don't think it makes them run faster, but she has adapted to Australia. She has been here 18 months now and it takes that long for mares to adjust. "From a health perspective, she's great." Waller said the Makybe Diva Stakes may suit a number of his horses, including Via Sistina and Fangirl. "The Makybe Diva might suit Via Sistina, and then maybe the Turnbull, so it (Winx Stakes) could be her only run in Sydney," Waller said. "But I won't rule out that she won't stay here either. "Obviously, I've got to speak to the owners and see what other horses they've got. They might have their other good mare (Treasurethe Moment) going towards the Makybe Diva and they might not want her there, so we'll have to see. "Fangirl, she could even go to the Makybe Diva as well second-up and then come back for the King Charles. "That's probably her first grand final. She is more of a miler, but she has come back well." The Sebring six-year-old mare has also been earmarked for a first-up run in the Winx Stakes that she won in 2023. The Turnbull Stakes will be at Flemington on Oct 4, while the Group 1 King Charles III Stakes (1,600m) will be run at The Everest meeting at Randwick on Oct 18. Waller would not be asking a lot of Via Sistina and Fangirl on July 22. "They're stablemates, they live next to each other, and they will probably finish out the back next to each other on Tuesday," he said. SKY RACING WORLD
News.com.au
5 days ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Champion mare Via Sistina to kick off latest Cox Plate pursuit in Randwick trial
Champion mare Via Sistina's build-up to her latest Cox Plate tilt will gather momentum when she headlines a star-studded barrier trial session at Royal Randwick on Tuesday. Trainer Chris Waller will get an early guide on how his spring carnival arsenal are going when Via Sistina steps up alongside star stablemates Fangirl, Aeliana, Autumn Glow and Wodeton. Via Sistina is making her first public appearance since her dominant Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes in April as she prepares to chase consecutive Cox Plate wins this spring. She lines up in a 850m heat alongside Fangirl while Canadian Group 1 winner Full Count Felicia also steps out. Golden Slipper runner up Wodeton, brilliant Australian Derby winner Aeliana, unbeaten boom filly Autumn Glow and Group 2 Phar Lap Stakes victor Lazzura contest a second 850m heat. 'They will all have very quiet trials on Tuesday, they are a month away from racing,' Waller said. 'The 23rd of August they will be racing. If everything goes to plan (they will have two trials). 'We allow an extra week just in case for a temperature or sore foot and things like that. 'Nine times out of 10 you need it and sometimes you will see them have an exhibition gallop if they haven't had a problem. 'It's just about being careful. You are a month away so you can imagine how much fitness is going to be done in the next month.' Sydney's first Group 1 of the new season, the Group 1 $1 million Winx Stakes, will be staged on August 23. Waller is considering another heavy-handed assault of the race with past winners Via Sistina and Fangirl while Aeliana and Lady Shenandoah, which will trial on Friday at Warwick Farm, are also candidates. 'All four of them could clash in the Winx first-up – Lady Shenandoah, Aeliana, Via Sistina and Fangirl ,' Waller said. 'Autumn Glow will probably go down a handicap path towards an Epsom.' Waller conceded the Winx Stakes may be Via Sistina's only run in Sydney this spring as the stable gives serious consideration to the Group 1 $750,000 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on September 13 for her second-up assignment. She followed the same path last year after winning the Winx Stakes. “This is a demolition job!â€� Pride Of Jenni runs her rivals ragged with a fantastic front-running ride by @decbates to win the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes! Via Sistina ran on into second and Mr Brightside finished third. @cmaherracing @tabcomau — Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) April 13, 2024 'I think the Makybe Diva will create a bit of interest to us with there being such a gap between the Winx and the King Charles,' Waller said. 'Then you have the Chelmsford but I think the Makybe Diva might suit her and then maybe the Turnbull. 'The Winx could be here only run in Sydney but I won't rule out that she won't stay here either.' Waller will also get a glimpse of one of his soon to be new arrivals when Silver Slipper winner Beiwacht contests the same heat. Beiwacht is among a string of Godolphin heavyweights that will step out on the morning as they prepare to move to new homes next season. Tom Kitten Zardozi, which heads to Ciaron Maher at the beginning of next season.
News.com.au
15-07-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Tony Gollan unfazed by prospect of Antino taking on Via Sistina in Cox Plate
Tony Gollan has the highest respect for Via Sistina but has virtually wiped her name from his brain as he uses a laser focus to plot a path towards the Cox Plate for Queensland freak Antino. Nine-time Group 1-winning superstar Via Sistina ($2.30) and Antino ($6) are top of the pops in early Cox Plate betting and it's an even more tantalising prospect considering they are potentially likely to clash several times beforehand. Champion Queensland trainer Gollan is relishing the challenge and said he won't be ducking and diving from tangling with Via Sistina. 'I am aware that we will probably run into Via Sistina after she runs in the Winx Stakes and we will probably run into her the rest of the way through during the spring,' Gollan said. 'But I am more focused on Antino than I am worried about someone else's horse. 'Chris (Waller) has got his own plan for his horse and I've got my own plan for mine, based on what I think will work for me. 'I can alter off that plan if I want but it wouldn't be to be dodging Via Sistina, I would only be changing if I felt I needed to add an extra run before the Cox Plate. 'It's just a process to have Antino at his best for the Cox Plate. 'And I just feel this is the perfect preparation for him, providing everything can go smoothly for us.' ANTINO WINS THE GROUP 1 DOOMBEN CUP!! @tonygollan @blake_shinn @BrisRacingClub @RaceQLD — 7HorseRacing ðŸ�Ž (@7horseracing) May 24, 2025 Via Sistina has been a racing phenomenon for some time, taking the breath of the racing world away when she spanked her Cox Plate rivals by eight lengths last spring. Antino has been more of a work in progress but he showed last year's Group 1 Toorak Handicap triumph was no fluke when he torched his Group 1 Doomben Cup opposition by four lengths during the recent Queensland winter carnival. Gollan has successfully turned Antino from a sprinter-miler into a middle distance weapon and the exciting gelding ran past Pride Of Jenni like she was standing still when scoring the Doomben Cup in record time. Antino is back in work and Gollan said he wants his stable star to be fourth-up when racing in the Cox Plate. He has tailored an elite spring preparation to suit. 'His first-up run will be Memsie Stakes on August 30 and from there we go two weeks to the Makybe Diva Stakes, they are the two races locked in,' Gollan said. 'Everything going well, my plan would be then three weeks into the Turnbull Stakes and then three weeks into Cox Plate. 'He would be fourth-up into the Cox Plate which I think is probably his optimum. 'Then after that we would hopefully go onto the Champions Stakes as his fifth run of the campaign. 'Antino has put on nice weight, off a short break, and he is doing a bit of three quarter pace work this week as we build things up for him.' Antino and Blake Shinn have been a perfect match, with the star Victorian jockey getting the best out of the Queensland superstar by setting off around his rivals and sustaining a long sprint in his Group 1 wins. Every indication is that the unique Moonee Valley circuit will suit those daring tactics.
News.com.au
01-07-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
2024-25 Champion Australian Racehorse awards: Via Sistina's a special but other categories wide open
The Horse of the Year award is a lock but try selecting the champion two-year-old or the best three-year-old filly. The three-year-old male award is up for grabs, the title of best sprinter isn't cut and dried, and neither is the stayer category for that matter. Unlike most years when these awards are reasonably predictable, most of the 2025 Champion Australian Racehorse award categories are wide open with the obvious exception of Horse of the Year which the Chris Waller -trained Via Sistina will win by about as far as her spectacular eight lengths Cox Plate romp last spring. The two-year-old award is one of the tightest as there was a different winner of each of the five Group 1 juvenile races this season including Marhoona and Devil Night who both scored their only stakes win in the Golden Slipper and Blue Diamond respectively. Nepotism won the Group 1 Champagne Stakes and Group 3 Baillieu Handicap while Vinrock was unbeaten in three starts and became first horse since Full On Aces (1981) to win the Group 2 VRC Sires Produce Stakes and Group 1 ATC Sires Produce Stakes double. Cool Archie made a late season surge with five consecutive wins including the Listed Dalrello Stakes, Group 2 Champagne Classic, Group 2 BRC Sires Produce Stakes and Group 1 JJ Atkins. Even Tempted — who won twice at Group 2 level and was luckless in the Blue Diamond (seventh) and Golden Slipper (third) – O' Ole (Magic Millions) and Within The Law will have some support. Aeliana 's outstanding ATC Australian Derby win by more than five lengths puts her into the conversation, Autumn Glow is unbeaten after four starts with three at stakes level, and Lady Of Camelot might have been winless this season but she was placed four times at Group 1 level and ran fourth in The Everest. Broadsiding (Golden Rose, Rosehill Guineas) was the only multiple Group 1 winner in the three-year-old male division but unbeaten Private Harry (The Galaxy), Linebacker (Randwick Guineas, defeating Broadsiding), Switzerland (Coolmore Stud Stakes), Private Life (Caulfield Guineas) and Maison Louis (Queensland Derby) will collate votes. It's anyone's guess for Champion Sprinter. Did Bella Nipotina do enough winning The Everest (and Russell Balding Stakes) to edge out dual Group 1 winners Joliestar (Newmarket Handicap, Kingsford Smith Cup) and Jimmysstar (Oakleigh Plate, All Aged Stakes), or Briasa (TJ Smith Stakes), Overpass (Winterbottom Stakes) and Schwarz (William Reid Stakes)? Bella Nipotina wins the $20million TAB Everest, and is the first mare to do so, after fighting off 2022 champ Giga Kick! @CWilliamsJockey gets his second Everest and the stable of @cmaherracing their first!ðŸ'¥ðŸ'¥ðŸ'¥ #TABEverest @tabcomau @SkyRacingAU @7horseracing @racing_nsw — Australian Turf Club (@aus_turf_club) October 19, 2024 Champion Stayer often goes to the Melbourne Cup winner but this was Knight's Choice 's only win of the season which brings the likes of Duke De Sessa (Caulfield Cup), Dubai Honour (Tancred Stakes), Arapaho (Sydney Cup, Sandown Classic), Campaldino (Brisbane Cup), Alalcance (Manion Cup, Chairman's Quality), Land Legend (The Metropolitan) and Zardozi into the mix. But champion mare Via Sistina was the standout of 2024-25, winning seven of her nine starts, all at Group 1 level to equal the record for most majors in a season set by all-time great Winx in 2018-19. "A CENTURY OF THE VERY BEST!" After a dramatic week, VIA SISTINA wins the 2024 Cox Plate & gives @mcacajamez 100 Group 1 victories ðŸ'š @cwallerracing â€' (@Racing) October 26, 2024 • Via Sistina is back … and she'll again blaze her record-breaking trail Via Sistina also won the Winx Stakes, Turnbull Stakes, Champions Stakes, Verry Elleegant Stakes, Ranvet Stakes and Queen Elizabeth Stakes over distances ranging from 1400m to 2000m so she will also claim the Middle Distance award, too. With Via Sistina certain to win Horse of the Year, it will be the eighth time in 10 years a Waller-trained galloper has won the coveted title. Waller also prepared the only four-time Horse of the Year winner, Winx (2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18, 2018-19), as well as Nature Strip (2019-20, 2021-22), and Verry Elleegant (2020-2021). Selected racing officials and media start voting on the awards this week with the winners announced at a special Hall of Fame-Horse of the Year function in Brisbane on August 31.
