Champion mare Via Sistina scores seventh G1 win in Australia

One year after making a stunning Australian debut in the Ranvet Stakes, superstar mare Via Sistina has returned to Rosehill and delivered another commanding performance to claim back-to-back victories in the Group 1 feature.

Since her breakthrough win last year, the exceptional mare has added five more elite-level triumphs to her resume, including a victory in the prestigious Cox Plate. Her consistency at the highest level has firmly cemented her status as one of the top racehorses in training.

Trainer Chris Waller, who took over her preparation ahead of last year’s campaign, is now fully aware of the special talent he has in his stable.

"She has lit up our lives," Waller said.

"Twelve months ago today we didn't know what we had coming out of quarantine. Obviously, we had a good article and a good horse to work with and a very supportive team with Yulong. They rarely make a mistake in Australian racing.

"She is a star. She is an unassuming horse but come race day she really turns it on.

"You can win Group One races here and there but good horses win them all the time and they're hard to find."

With Full Count Felicia setting the early pace, Via Sistina ($1.22 betting favourite) was positioned midfield under James McDonald. As they rounded the home turn, McDonald guided her to the outside, allowing her to surge past stablemate Lindermann ($11) and secure victory by a comfortable 1.5 lengths, with Fawkner Park ($15) finishing a further half-length away in third.

Waller confirmed that the champion mare will now be aimed at the Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Randwick in three weeks, where she will look to make amends for her runner-up finish to Pride Of Jenni last year.

"It was perfect," he said.

"She had an economical run throughout. She was travelling well enough to angle out on the turn, just went through her gears nicely and when the pressure comes into a race, that's when she knows how to perform," he said.

"I thought she might have actually got away from us a little bit today so I think there is improvement to come."

Waller also praised Lindermann for bouncing back strongly after what he described as a “flat run” in last week’s Sky High Stakes (2000m). He also expects Full Count Felicia to take plenty of benefit from what was a testing first-up effort in Australia.