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Via Sistina’s 2025 Spring Campaign: A Season of Dominance and Destiny

In the landscape of Australian and international racing, few mares have captured the imagination and admiration of the racing world like Via Sistina. Trained by Chris Waller and owned by the renowned Australian Bloodstock syndicate, Via Sistina has emerged in 2025 as a dominant force during the Spring Carnival, proving not only her class but also her extraordinary versatility.

After making the long journey from Europe and already showing glimpses of brilliance in late 2024, this season has been about cementing her legacy—and that’s exactly what she has done.

From Royal Ascot Group 1 placings to a breathtaking Cox Plate win, Via Sistina has tackled the most elite competition and come out on top, firmly stamping herself as a mare for the ages.

The Backstory: From Europe to Australia:

Originally trained in the UK by George Boughey, Via Sistina quickly established herself as a top-tier middle-distance performer in Europe. In 2023, she announced herself on the world stage by winning the Group 1 Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh.

Her performances in the Group 1 Falmouth Stakes and Prix de l’Opéra further confirmed her class, with her devastating turn of foot and tactical versatility turning heads.

Australian Bloodstock, always on the lookout for global talent, saw her potential as a Cox Plate horse and made a bold move to bring her Down Under in late 2024. Entrusted to the master of transformation, Chris Waller, she acclimatised beautifully and showed enough in a short summer preparation to raise expectations sky-high for her spring assault.

Spring Kick-Off: Winx Stakes (1400m, Group 1, Randwick)

Via Sistina’s 2025 campaign began in mid-August in the Group 1 Winx Stakes, a traditional launching pad for many elite spring aspirants. Despite 1400m being well short of her ideal trip, punters and pundits watched eagerly to see how she would handle Australian conditions in her first full preparation.

She didn’t disappoint.

From the wide draw, she settled back in the field under James McDonald. When the sprint went on, she sliced through the pack with ease and surged late to finish second, just behind stablemate Fangirl. Importantly, she pulled up brilliantly and showed she had adapted completely to local racing tempo.

It was a performance that screamed of bigger things to come.

Second-Up: Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m, Group 1, Flemington)

With the cobwebs well and truly blown off, Via Sistina lined up in the Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington over a mile. This time, conditions suited her better, and she delivered emphatically.

Ridden more positively, she loomed into the race at the 400m, sat outside the leader Alligator Blood, and with a flick of the reins, exploded away to win by two lengths. It was a dominant, almost arrogant display against some of the country’s top weight-for-age performers.

Chris Waller was quick to praise her post-race:
“She’s a special mare. Her acceleration and her will to win make her a dream to train. This was only her second run this prep, and she’ll improve again.”

The win firmly placed her among Cox Plate favourites.

Third-Up: Turnbull Stakes (2000m, Group 1, Flemington)

The logical next step was the Turnbull Stakes, traditionally a key Cox Plate lead-up. In this race, she would face a rising star in Gold Trip, as well as proven weight-for-age performers like Duais and Romantic Warrior.

The field was stacked, but Via Sistina proved superior.

She settled just behind midfield, glided into the race with 600m to go, and pounced on the leaders at the furlong. Gold Trip tried to go with her but was outgunned in the closing stages. Via Sistina strode away to win by 1.5 lengths and set the racing world abuzz.

Now unbeaten in two starts at Flemington and with an imposing third-up fitness peak, she looked every bit a Cox Plate heroine in waiting.

The Pinnacle: Cox Plate (2040m, Group 1, Moonee Valley)

By late October, the Cox Plate field had crystallised into one of the most exciting in recent memory: Via Sistina, the European queen turned Aussie darling; Romantic Warrior, the Hong Kong dynamo; Militarize, the star three-year-old colt; and Mr Brightside, the reigning All-Star Mile champion.

In front of a packed crowd at Moonee Valley, Via Sistina produced the performance of her life.

McDonald gave her a peach of a ride, slotting into a perfect one-out, one-back position. As the field swung into the straight, she was momentarily blocked, but with 150m to go, the gap appeared—and that was all she needed.

She burst through like a rocket, outsprinting Militarize and fending off a brave Romantic Warrior to win by half a length. The grandstand erupted.

She had done it—Via Sistina was the 2025 Cox Plate champion.

Aftermath: Global Praise and Breeding Speculation

The win catapulted her to global acclaim. The Racing Post in the UK declared:

“Via Sistina has become a global icon—proof that class travels, and mares can dominate even the toughest stages.”

In Australia, she was hailed as the best mare since Winx, and while the comparison may be premature, her achievements in a single preparation gave rise to the idea she could continue to dominate for another season.

With her pedigree, a breeding career looms large, but connections have hinted she may race on into 2026, possibly with targets including the Dubai Turf, Queen Elizabeth Stakes, or even a trip to Royal Ascot to take on the boys once more.

www.racingnsw.com.au

What Made Her Campaign So Special?

1. International Class with Local Toughness

Via Sistina brought proven European Group 1 class, but under Chris Waller’s care, she gained the toughness required to thrive in the high-pressure environment of Australian weight-for-age racing.

2. Adaptability

She showed she could handle wet and dry tracks, sharp-turning Moonee Valley and the big expanses of Flemington, and everything from 1400m to 2040m.

3. The Right Team

From Australian Bloodstock’s smart acquisition to Waller’s tactical planning and McDonald’s faultless riding, every piece fell perfectly into place. It was a textbook example of international recruitment success.

What’s Next for Via Sistina?

With the Cox Plate in her trophy cabinet, several options are on the table:

• Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m, Randwick) in Autumn 2026

• Dubai Turf or Sheema Classic (1800-2400m, Meydan) in March 2026

• A farewell at Royal Ascot in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes or Coronation Cup

A possible rematch with Romantic Warrior or a clash with top international colts is on the cards, as well as a decision about whether to breed or race on. Connections have kept fans intrigued by suggesting one final campaign before retirement.

Legacy and Impact

Beyond the wins and prize money, Via Sistina has left a legacy of excellence. She has shown that top-class mares from Europe can not only compete in Australia but thrive. Her journey from the Curragh to the Valley has inspired syndicators and owners to look more globally for their next superstar.

She also reignited excitement in the Cox Plate, a race once dominated by legends like So You Think and Winx. In a carnival often focused on sprint stars or Melbourne Cup stayers, Via Sistina reminded fans of the magic of middle-distance champions.

Conclusion

Via Sistina’s 2025 Spring Campaign was nothing short of extraordinary. In a matter of months, she went from an imported curiosity to a Cox Plate-winning legend. Along the way, she defeated the best of the best, handled all conditions, and captured the hearts of the racing public.

In a year where the Spring Carnival returned to full strength, with packed crowds, deep fields, and record prize money, Via Sistina stood above it all—a powerful mare with the class of a queen and the heart of a warrior.

Whether she returns in 2026 or heads to the breeding barn, her name will be etched alongside the greats. Via Sistina is not just a champion—she is a story of global ambition, perfect planning, and undeniable talent.

And in 2025, she was the queen of the spring. 👑🏇

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