Grade 1 winner Full Count Felicia finishes 4th in 1st Australia start

Full Count Felicia, who upset Moira in the Grade 1 E. P. Taylor at Woodbine in 2024, finished fourth behind Via Sistina in Saturday's Group 1 Ranvet Stakes at Rosehill. It was her first start in Australia and her first for her new trainer Chris Waller.

In the race at about 1 1/4 miles on the grass, Full Count Felicia broke well and took her customary early spot at the front of the pack. She set the pace clear of her stablemate Lindermann, who tracked in a clear second. Via Sistina, the 1-10 favorite in the pari-mutuel pool, bided her time midfield near the inside.

Around the turn for home, the field began to contract. Via Sistina shifted three wide into the lane to make her run. Two furlongs out, Lindermann headed Full Count Felicia as the favorite loomed three wide. Full Count Felicia flattened out in the final furlong and a half, while Via Sistina wrested the lead from Lindermann with about a furlong to go.

Via Sistina edged clear under jockey James McDaniel, finishing 1 1/2 lengths clear over Lindermann to win her second straight edition of the Ranvet. Lindermann held second over a rallying Faulkner Park by half a length. It was another three lengths back to Full Count Felicia. Golden Path and Al Mubhir completed the order of finish, and Zarahem was scratched.

After finishing seventh behind Moira in the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf on Nov. 2, Full Count Felicia sold for $1 million to Willingham Stud. Her owner of record in Australia is Yulong Investments, who also owns Via Sistina, the winner of the Ranvet. In addition to Full Count Felicia Waller trains Via Sistina, as well as second-place Lindermann.

After her repeat in the Ranvet, Via Sistina is now an eight-time Group 1 winner, including the 2023 Pretty Polly in Ireland as well as seven top-level races in Australia. The highest-profile of those wins so far was in the Cox Plate (G1) last October at Moonee Valley, where she romped by eight lengths over Japan-based Prognosis.