Chris Waller compared it to a “Foxplay moment,” but just as Winx did eight years ago, Via Sistina rose to the occasion at Randwick to claim her ninth Group 1 victory in the Winx Stakes (1400m).
First-up since her Queen Elizabeth Stakes triumph in April, the mare faced a stern challenge when stablemate and Australian Derby winner Aeliana loomed strongly in the straight. For a fleeting moment, the younger filly looked set to cause an upset, but Via Sistina’s class shone through and she dug deep to score by a neck.
“It was almost a Foxplay moment, wasn’t it?” Waller said, recalling the 2016 Warwick Stakes when Winx had to hold off her stablemate. “We’ve got a couple of decent mares on our hands.”
Via Sistina also won this race 12 months ago before a heavy-track defeat in the Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m), after which she strung together three straight wins, capped by her Cox Plate triumph.
While pleased with Saturday’s result, Waller admitted he was uneasy about running her first-up on a heavy 10 surface. “I didn’t have doubt we could run today. My doubt was, where are we after today? In two weeks’ time, four weeks’ time?” he said. He reiterated his view that Sydney’s major tracks should be rested during July to ensure better conditions in spring. “These horses are worth so much money… They need Via Sistina, not just winning today. They need Via Sistina winning second up, third up, fourth up.”
Waller confirmed another Cox Plate campaign is the likely target, while Aeliana’s path remains open. Sydney Cup winner Arapaho impressed when third, with Ceolwulf flashing home for fourth ahead of his tilt at the Chelmsford Stakes (1600m).
For Waller and James McDonald, the Winx Stakes was the second leg of a feature-race treble after earlier wins with Autumn Glow in the Toy Show Quality (1100m) and Lazzura in the Show County Quality (1200m).