Via Sistina narrowly repeats in Cox Plate’s finale at old Valley

It was not the eight-length runaway that she enjoyed last year. This time Via Sistina had to work hard to come from behind and win by a short head Saturday in the 105th running of the Group 1, US$3.9 million Cox Plate in Melbourne, Australia.

Widely regarded as the Southern Hemisphere’s best weight-for-age test, it was the last race at Moonee Valley before the start of a US$143 million rebuilding project.

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Champion jockey James McDonald became the second rider to win four Cox Plates in a row and the first to do it with more than one horse. He rode Anamoe in 2022, Romantic Warrior in 2023 and Via Sistina the last two years. Hugh Bowman won four straight with Winx from 2015 to 2018.

“Even though it wasn’t seven lengths, I’m just over the moon,” McDonald said. “I think this one is a relief. I love this place. I’m blessed to ride champion racehorses. Blessed to be a part of a champion stable.”

Chris Waller, who trained Winx, also looks after Via Sistina, a mare who is considered to be 8 years old in the Southern Hemisphere and 7 in her native Ireland. Via Sistina has 11 Group 1 wins with five coming this year.

Via Sistina (1-1) settled sixth in the field of eight open-company starters going nearly 1 1/4 miles on the course which has four 90-degree left turns. Light Infantry Man (36-1) set the pace on the turf which was rated good.

At the quarter pole between turns 3 and 4, Via Sistina was third after making a three-wide move into contention behind early stalker Treasurethe Moment (2-1), a 4-year-old filly who had moved into the lead.

It was around there, in sight of Moonee Ponds Primary School across the neighboring street, where Waller thought McDonald and Via Sistina would have their make-or-break moment.

“James had to get going early, and everyone could see him going, so he’s five wide at the school,” Waller said. “Don’t go before the school. That’s what I’m thinking.”

Turning into the 167-yard homestretch, Via Sistina had moved inside her deep-closing stablemate Buckaroo (14-1), a 7-year-old gelding ridden by Mark Zahra. They accelerated head to head into second and third and then overtook Treasurethe Moment with 60 yards to go.

Carrying four fewer pounds, Via Sistina held her ground the rest of the way for the narrow victory over Buckaroo to give Waller and sire Fastnet Rock the exacta. Treasurethe Moment and jockey Damian Lane held on for third. Six-year-old horse Attrition (53-1) with Craig Williams finished fourth.

The final time was 2:05.03 without a run-up for the 2,000 meters, 13 yards short of 1 1/4 miles.

In World Pool mutuels Via Sistina paid $4.20, $3.20 and $2.60; Buckaroo $8.80 and $4.20; and Treasurethe Moment $3.60.

Considered to be the first 8-year-old mare to win the Cox Plate, Via Sistina has been owned since March 2024 by Yu Long Investments. According to the Australia website Racenet, her career record is 31: 16-5-5 with earnings of US$11.5 million at the current rate of exchange.

With his sixth win, Waller moved into a tie with Jack Holt for the second-most training wins in the Cox Plate. Tommy Smith holds the record with seven.

“The first one was special,” Waller said. “These are bonuses.”

While Moonee Valley is being rebuilt, the 2026 Cox Plate will be run at nearby Flemington, the traditional home of the two-mile, US$6.5 million Melbourne Cup (G1) which will be run this year on Nov. 4.