Cox Plate 2024 pair take to Valley track

Two highly fancied Cox Plate contenders took advantage of having a look at the Moonee Valley circuit ahead of the Group 1 contest on Saturday week.

While most eyes were on the international pair of Prognosis and Docklands, the James Cummings-trained Broadsiding and Chris Wallers’ Via Sistina also had their first look at The Valley on Thursday morning.

Sent out an odds-on favourite when fourth in the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) last week, Broadsiding was not out to run time in his workout under race rider Jamie Kah.

Both Cummings and Kah were satisfied with what Broadsiding showed, and Cummings indicated the colt may return to Moonee Valley on Tuesday for ‘Breakfast With The Best’.

“I was happy with what I saw, but don’t get too carried away, we weren’t here to light the track up,” Cummings said.

“He’s turned up, settled in, saddle up and was feeling good about himself because he’s been quite fresh since the weekend.

“He just had a little canter around Moonee Valley, a look around and took it all in, beautifully, like he’s been here before.

“I got some extra confidence from my rider Jamie Kah who feels like Broadsiding has great maturity for his age and was trying to fight for a bit more bridle in the last furlong.

“We kept a lid on him this morning and he’s just progressed beautifully since the Guineas.”

The was some anxious moments pre-gallop for Via Sistina who was the first horse to arrive at The Valley on Tuesday morning but cast a plate.

Via Sistina’s gallop was delayed as a farrier was called in to refit the shoe, however the delay did not affect the mare before she went about her work under James Mcdonald.

“She felt excellent,” McDonald said.

“She seemed to handle the track really well and she’s a horse that wants to lay into a bend which is quite nice, especially here, and she seemed to get around really comfortably.

“She took it all in her stride. She had a good look around, but she is a mare that likes to look at everything and it will do her the world of good to have a test drive around here.”

McDonald said he may return to Moonee Valley next Tuesday if trainer Chris Waller decides Via Sistina requires another look at The Valley before the Cox Plate.

He said Via Sistina had improved immensely from her fifth-place finish in the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington last month.

Damian Lane was aboard Via Sistina when successful in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington at her most recent outing.

“She’s chalk and cheese from the day I sat on her at Flemington,” McDonald said.

“She’s holding her condition really well and Chris seems really happy with her.”