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Source: TTR Australia & NZ by Josh Spasaro
Champion trainer Chris Waller said Via Sistina (Ire) (Fastnet Rock) “lit up our lives 12 months ago”, and her amazing career continued with her eighth Group 1 win in the G1 Ranvet Stakes at Rosehill on Saturday.
She was simply too strong inside the final furlong of the 2000-metre feature, powering home to win by 1.53l, with Lindermann (Lonhro) rounding out a quinella for the Waller stable, and star hoop James McDonald aboard.
Fastnet Rock was one of the most celebrated stallions of modern times, twice Champion Sire in Australia, before he was retired from stud duties by Coolmore last year.
And now 7-year-old mare Via Sistina – who won last year’s Ranvet Stakes – is the best horse in the nation for Yulong Investments.
“She’s a lovely, big, unassuming horse. But come race day, she really turns it on. We don’t dare light her up in the mornings because what she’s capable of, like she’s a real powerhouse,” Waller said.
“She’s (Via Sistina) a lovely, big, unassuming horse. But come race day, she really turns it on. We don’t dare light her up in the mornings because what she’s capable of, like she’s a real powerhouse.” – Chris Waller
“Her track rider, Chris Harwood, said, ‘oh, if we get her flying like one day she might just keep going’ as we saw. So, yeah, she’s a gentle giant that graces the turf.”
Triumphant champion jockey McDonald said Via Sistina deserved to be known as the queen of Australian racing.
“She’s well up there, that’s for sure. She’s definitely good,” he said.
“She turns up each and every time which I’m so proud of her because if she was going to get beat it could have been easily a race like this.”
McDonald also reserved praised for Harwood, ahead of Via Sistina’s next target which is likely to be the G1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick on April 12.
“Chris Harwood does a really good job, because as it was well documented, she was supposed to gallop here last Saturday, I wouldn’t have the strength to hold her because she just tanks around so Chris does a good job,” McDonald said.
“Same with all the other guys there. He’s got a fantastic team there, and they work the horses brilliantly, so they don’t need my help, but it’s nice to be partnering them on race day, and it’s a really good feeling.”
This was Waller’s 15th Group 1 victory this season, six of those coming with the all-conquering Via Sistina.