Via Sistina, a seven-year-old mare, dominated the field to win the Cox Plate, delivering jockey James McDonald his 100th Group 1 win. The horse charged home to win by well over five lengths in Melbourne on Saturday, after a mid-week trackwork accident nearly put her out of the race.
Dominant Performance
Via Sistina, trained by Chris Waller, took the lead on the bend and stormed home to win by an impressive eight lengths. Waller was visibly emotional after the race, revealing his worries when Via Sistina nearly came down during trackwork on Tuesday. McDonald hit the ground hard, leaving the horse to run two or three circuits of the track riderless. However, after being checked out by vets, Via Sistina was cleared to race and delivered a truly remarkable performance.
The victory gave McDonald his third straight win in the big race following rides on Romantic Warrior and Anamoe in the last two years. "I had such a smooth run the first half," McDonald told Channel Seven after the race.
"And I thought I'd just wheel it out, keep it smooth, blend in and she loved it. She won like Winx. She blended and then, yeah, just a phenomenal performance."
A Century of Group 1 Wins
McDonald expressed his elation, especially as the win marked his 100th Group 1 triumph. "I think there was more pressure because obviously, the other two were well-fancied, but they're very easy horses to ride," he said.
"This one, she's not easy, things needed to go our way and probably the momentum of this 100 has been quite heavy."
A Moment of Doubt
The win was even more impressive considering the mid-week trackwork incident. "I thought our hopes were doomed," McDonald said, referencing a photograph which showed him sitting on the track, looking forlorn as a riderless Via Sistina raced off into the distance.
"I thought there was a fantastic picture there when I popped myself up and looked and watched her gallop away, and I think if looks could tell a story, we were stuffed."
A Champion Returns
The victory solidified Via Sistina's status as a champion.
"Put it on top of the list, we've seen some extraordinary things at the Cox Plate… it's the stuff of legends, (trainer) Chris Waller's a genius and this mare's a champion," Bruce McAvaney said on Channel 7.
A Race for the Ages
The Cox Plate is a Group 1 thoroughbred race for horses aged three years or older. It is run under weight for age conditions over a 2040 metre distance. The total prizemoney for the Cox Plate stands at $5 million for 2024, with the winner taking home $3 million.
The Race's History
The Cox Plate, first run in 1922, is named after W.S. Cox, who founded the Melbourne Racing Club. The race has a rich history, with legendary winners including Phar Lap (1930-31), triple Melbourne Cup winning mare Makybe Diva (2005) and Winx, who saluted across four successive years between 2015 and 2018.
Looking Ahead to the Future
The Cox Plate is a thrilling spectacle, and the 2024 edition was no exception. As the race concludes for another year, anticipation builds for the next iteration of this prestigious event.
A Race Remembered
Via Sistina's victory will be remembered for years to come, and the horse’s incredible comeback story further adds to the legend of the Cox Plate.
