Via Sistina withdrawn from the Melbourne Cup 2024

Record breaking Cox Plate winner Via Sistina will miss the Melbourne Cup but is still likely to be seen in action during the week.

A roundtable discussion between trainer Chris Waller, Yulong’s General Manager Vix Cox along with Yulong principal Yuesheng Zhang and his daughter decided to bypass the Cup in favour of the Group 1 Champions Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on the final day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival.

And a trip to Hong Kong for the international meeting in December has also been ruled out.

Cox said the Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on Tuesday had not been in the team’s thoughts with Via Sistina’s campaign centred around the last Saturday’s Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley.

“We would all love to win a Melbourne Cup, not the least us,” Cox told RSN.

“The Melbourne Cup was never really on the radar and albeit she absolutely bolted in the Cox Plate and looked super impressive, but the Melbourne Cup, (it was) an afterthought, (and) probably doesn’t really add up.

“We know how afterthoughts can work out and generally not that well, so hopefully we will be taking aim at the Champions Stakes next week.”

Cox said Via Sistina was due to make her way back to Waller’s Flemington stable to prepare for the Champions Stakes having spent time at Mount Macedon following the Cox Plate.

He said it was a tough decision to rule out Hong Kong with the horse’s welfare the main priority.

“That was a very tough decision because Mr Zhang has got huge connections in Hong Kong and throughout mainland China,” Cox said.

“It’s something he really wanted to do but, what it came down to, and Chris is very meticulous, the mare hasn’t yet 100 per cent acclimated to the Southern Hemisphere.

“To take her back up to the Northern Hemisphere and jeopardise where she is now and where she is progressing, was a big factor.”

While Via Sistina won’t be seen until Champions Day, Yulong will have a strong hand in one of the feature Group 1 races on the opening day of Cup week.

Growing Empire and First Settler will chase Group 1 honours in the Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m), regarded as one of Australia’s leading stallion making races.

Cox confirmed the Ciaron Maher-trained Growing Empire would take his place after finishing third to Bella Nipotina in the Group 1 The Everest (1200m) at Randwick on October 19.

“Ciaron and his team are adamant the horse is flying, and I have no reason to query that at all,” Cox said.

“The were very excited to run, very keen to run and hopefully he runs to his best and it would be wonderful if he is challenging in the last 100 (metres) in the Coolmore.”

Via Sistina officially ranked the world’s number 1⃣ racehorse!

The Cox Plate has always been her main target, to win it is nothing short of a dream.

Following this peak performance and after much consideration, it has been decided she will not contest the 2024 Melbourne Cup. pic.twitter.com/Ni9uSjvsdy

— Yulong Investments (@YulongInvest) October 29, 2024