The 2024 Cox Plate at Moonee Valley Racecourse in Melbourne, Australia, was the third of a record-equaling seven Group 1 wins for Via Sistina in the country’s 2024-25 racing season.
For those achievements, Via Sistina was named Australia’s Horse of the Year.
To stay in the discussions for this award, Via Sistina needs a win in Friday’s Group 1 Cox Plate at about 1 1/4 miles, Australia’s leading weight-for-age race.
So far this year, Via Sistina has won once in three starts, in the Group 1 Winx Stakes at seven furlongs in August
A winner of 14 of 27 starts in Europe and Australia, Via Sistina finished third in her last two starts at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne – losing by slightly less than two lengths to the brilliant miler Mr Brightside in the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes on Sept. 13 and by 2 1/4 lengths to Sir Delius in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes at 1 1/4 miles on Oct. 4.
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Sir Delius was the future-book favorite for the Group 1 Melbourne Cup on Nov. 4 until he failed a vet check last week.
In the $3.89 million Cox Plate, Via Sistina was the 5-4 favorite in early betting Wednesday, an indication that bettors have forgiven the 7-year-old Irish-bred mare for her recent defeats.
Via Sistina, trained by Chris Waller, is one of two recent champions in the Cox Plate field along with Treasurethe Moment, the outstanding 3-year-old filly of the 2024-25 season. Similar to Via Sistina, Treasurethe Moment has lost her last two starts, finishing second to 2023-24 Horse of the Year Pride of Jenni in the Group 1 Feehan Stakes at a mile on Sept. 26 at Moonee Valley and second to Globe in the Group 1 Might and Power Stakes at 1 1/4 miles on Oct. 11 at Caulfield Racecourse.
Globe led throughout the Might and Power Stakes, which drew four runners. On Thursday in Australia, Globe was scratched from the Cox Plate because of lameness, according to a statement released by Racing Victoria, the state regulatory agency.
A four-time Group 1 winner, Treasurethe Moment was 8-1 as of Wednesday.
Antino, second by 1 3/4 lengths in the Turnbull, was the 5-2 second choice. Antino has a stalking style that can be effective at Moonee Valley, which has a short stretch run of approximately 190 yards.
Last year, Via Sistina closed from sixth of nine in the final half-mile to win by six lengths in record time of 2:01.07.
This will be the last Cox Plate at Moonee Valley until 2027. The course is scheduled to undergo a 21-month redevelopment beginning in November. The 2026 Cox Plate will be run at nearby Flemington, two miles to the southwest.
Shangri La Boy tries longer
Shangri La Boy has won his last two starts by leading throughout and will have that style tested when he starts in his longest race in Friday’s Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes at 1 1/4 miles at Royal Randwick in Sydney.
Shangri La Boy, trained by Adrian Bott and Gai Waterhouse, led throughout the Group 3 Gloaming Stakes at 1 1/8 miles in his stakes debut on Oct. 11 at Rosehill Gardens in Sydney, winning by slightly more than two lengths.
In the $1.299 million Spring Champion Stakes for Southern Hemisphere 3-year-olds, Shangri La Boy was 2-1 on Wednesday, a slight choice over 3-1 Attica, who closed from last of 10 to win the Group 3 Dulcify Stakes at a mile on Oct. 4 at Randwick.
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