Racing
Via Sistina down for Randwick trial
Via Sistina is down for her first public appearance ahead of the spring with a trial on the Kensington track at Randwick.
Champion trainer Chris Waller says Via Sistina could follow a similar program as last spring that saw the mare land four Group 1 victories.
Via Sistina will have her first public appearance on Tuesday morning when she steps out in the opening heat of 17 trials at Randwick.
The 850m trial on the Kensington track has brought together a field of eight and includes Fangirl, Tom Kitten and Zardozi.
Waller is planning on starting Via Sistina first-up in the Group 1 Winx Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on August 23 and is then potentially looking at swinging the mare to Melbourne to run in the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on September 13.
Via Sistina ran fifth in the Makybe Diva 12 months ago before going on a three run Group 1 winning spree in Melbourne taking the Turnbull Stakes, the Cox Plate and the Champion Stakes.
The mare then raced exclusively in Sydney during the autumn, collecting another three Group 1 successes.
Waller said he would discuss options with Via Sistina's owners, Yulong, as to what plans they see for the mare and potentially avoid any clashes with other horses in their ownership.
"She has come back well. She has come back stronger than she has been," Waller said.
"I don't think it makes them run faster, but she has adapted to Australia. She has been here 18 months now and it takes that long for mares to adjust.
"From a health perspective, she's great."
Waller said the Makybe Diva may suit a number of his horses with the Group 1 George Main Stakes becoming the King Charles III Stakes and run at The Everest meeting.
The 7 Stakes, that is run in mid-September, does not hold any Stakes status.
"The Makybe Diva might suit Via Sistina and then maybe the Turnbull, so it could be her only run in Sydney," Waller said.
"But I won't rule out that she won't stay here either.
"Obviously, I've got to speak to the owners and see what other horses they've got. They might have their other good mare (Treasurethe Moment) going towards the Makybe Diva and they might not want her there, so we'll have to see."
"Fangirl, she could even go to the Makybe Diva as well second-up and then come back for the King Charles.
"That's probably her first grand final. She is more a miler, but she has come back well."
Waller won't be asking a lot of Via Sistina and Fangirl on Tuesday.
"They're stablemates, they live next to each other, and they will probably finish out the back next to each other on Tuesday," he said.
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