Group 1 stars abound at Warwick Farm trials
Leading Sydney trainer Chris Waller is set to unleash a number of his vast array of Group 1 talent at the barrier trials at Warwick Farm on Thursday.
Cox Plate winning imported mare Via Sistina headlines seven individual Group 1 winners that will strut their stuff on Thursday morning.
Via Sistina, who has not been sighted since her victory in the Champions Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on the final day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival.
She is set to trial against five of her Waller-trained stablemates in the second heat of the morning over 900m on the course proper.
Via Sistina is being prepared for a tilt at the Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Randwick in April, a race she ran second in behind Pride Of Jenni last year.
Opposed to Via Sistina on Thursday morning will be New Zealand galloper Asterix, who will be having his first outing for Waller, along with Birdman, Delichy Boulevard, Lady Shenandoah and Manzoice.
Group 1 winners in Melbourne during the spring – Atishu, Private Life and Switzerland – will meet in the opening heat over 900m.
Atishu chased home Via Sistina in the Champions Stakes having won the Empire Rose Stakes at Flemington the week prior while Private Life and Switzerland each won the two major Group 1 races for three-year-olds in Melbourne during the spring, the Caulfield Guineas and Coolmore Stud Stakes respectively.
Fangirl lines up in the third trial of the morning where she will oppose stablemates Francesco Guardi, Gatsby’s, Kinesiology and Valiant King.
A total of 15 trials are set down on Thursday with the first heat scheduled for 9am.
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