Waller backs Via Sistina to handle heavy challenge in Winx Stakes defence
By Craig Kerry
Chris Waller believes Via Sistina will thrive “getting into the ground” in the Winx Stakes at Randwick on Saturday, despite the superstar mare failing in her only attempt on heavy going.
And the premier Sydney trainer is looking to the Irish-bred eight-year-old’s European form, and a tip from star English jockey Ryan Moore as evidence.
Via Sistina and Kerrin McEvoy charge home in the 2024 Winx Stakes. James McDonald has the ride on Saturday.Credit: Getty Images
Via Sistina, destined to be crowned Australian horse of the year after a record-equalling seven group 1 wins last season, is set to resume in the 1400m Winx Stakes on Saturday, although heavy rain this week and forecasts for more showers on Friday and Saturday have raised questions about the meeting going ahead, and which stars will line up if it does.
The opening group 1 of the season has a field of 12, including five from the Waller stable.
Via Sistina, the defending champion, is a $2.35 Sportsbet favourite despite finishing third first up in the 1400m Apollo Stakes in the autumn and coming fifth in her only run on a heavy track, in the Makybe Diva Stakes, 11 months ago at Flemington.
Waller, though, is confident she will handle a heavy Randwick track first up, but he hopes the rain won’t continue on race day.
“I went back through her form and one of her best runs was when she ran second behind King Of Steel, who was flying at the time, at the end of the season in the Champions Day race over 2000 metres, and it was pretty wet,” Waller said on Wednesday of Via Sistina’s final run in Europe, at Ascot.
Chris Waller and James McDonald after Via Sistina’s Queen Elizabeth Stakes win in April at Randwick.Credit: Getty Images
“I wouldn’t be surprised if it was wetter than it’s going to be on Saturday. And then a couple of her other soft wins: one was in France, and they’ve run 2:09 for 2000 metres, and then there was a race at Newmarket on a soft track. They are genuinely soft tracks.
“It’s hard to compare tracks, but the one thing I don’t think she likes is a shifty track, and that’s what she got in the Makybe Diva last year. It rained an hour before the race – it actually hailed an hour before the race – and it was a firm base; it was quite shifty, and she didn’t like it.
“But when she’s getting into the ground, which is where her English form comes in, I think she’s pretty good.”
He also took encouragement from Moore’s assessment of Via Sistina before her winning Australian debut in March last year.
“I remember Ryan Moore, he rode in the same race that she was in, in the Ranvet, and he said, ‘If she turns up and brings her best form she’ll beat this lot easy, and when you get her on a wet track she’ll be better again’,” Waller said.
“I’ve remembered that.”
Off an economical run, Via Sistina edged out stablemates Zougotcha and Fangirl in the Winx Stakes last year. This year Fangirl ($6.50), Aeliana ($7.50), Lindermann ($35) and Full Count Felicia ($41) will also contest the race for Waller, who trained the great Winx.
Randwick has copped about 150 millimetres of rain in the past week, casting doubts about the meeting, which also features the group 2 Silver Shadow Stakes, group 3 Toy Show and Show County qualities and the Premier’s Cup.
Waller hopes to get his star team’s spring campaign under way, and he believes his stars are well prepared. Unbeaten four-year-old mare Autumn Glow ($1.85), which returns in the Toy Show (1100m) against her own sex, is among his headline acts but is untested on heavy tracks.
“We want to see if she can sprint and, if not, we’ll quickly go down the mile path,” Waller said of his spring plans for the Epsom Handicap (1600m) favourite and potential Everest (1200m) runner.
“Because we’re well prepared, I’m prepared to try [her on heavy], but I would like to see no rain on the day [Saturday]. That would make everybody’s job easier, and it would make my job easier, getting them through the run.
“I don’t want them slipping and sliding, being uncomfortable, but if they’re getting into the ground, that’s fine because they’re well prepared. They’ve had good preps – that goes for all of them – but with her, obviously she’s in no rush just to begin, and we have looked after her this far. But as long as it’s safe on the day, she’ll run.
“I think if they run, you’ve just got to be careful they don’t need to be backing up two weeks later.”
As for his other Winx Stakes entries, Waller said the heavy track would take away from Fangirl’s brilliance, “so I’m a little bit more concerned with her”. American mare Full Count Felicia is untried on the going but needs to build for longer targets and ATC Derby champion Aeliana will measure up as a multiple group 1 winner in the spring.