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Waller mares right for Champions Stakes

3 minute read

Chris Waller will have a couple of last start Group 1 winning mares headed to the Champions Stakes at Flemington.

VIA SISTINA.
VIA SISTINA. Picture: Racing Photos

Chris Waller hopes the decision to bypass the Melbourne Cup with Via Sistina will be vindicated in another Group 1 success at Flemington

The Champions Stakes (2000m) on Saturday will see Via Sistina line up with stablemate Atishu against another 10 opponents. 

Waller said the decision to miss the Melbourne Cup following Via Sistina's record breaking win in the Cox Plate at Moonee Valley was a difficult decision for all involved. 

"We were very close to running and we were very tempted but there were so many aspects to suggest that we shouldn't," Waller said. 

"You've got to draw a line somewhere and there were enough negatives to suggest that whilst she's become the world's highest-rated horse over 2000 metres, how dare we try to run over 3200 metres which is another extra third of the distance. 

"She probably gets 2400 metres, she probably gets 3000 metres but that last 200 metres is what counts in the Melbourne Cup." 

Waller said he had the full support of the ownership team in bypassing the Cup, but racegoers will get the opportunity to see the mare in action again on Saturday. 

The champion trainer is certainly not expecting another eight-length victory, he will be happy just to see her successful again. 

"Via Sistina has come through her Cox Plate win very well, she's gone to a new level in terms of running a track record at the Valley in such a time honoured race," Waller said. 

"I thought it may have come at a cost, but it hasn't. 

"I wouldn't say she's improved but she hasn't gone backwards and if she can hold her own, the team are telling me she's ready to do another great performance on Saturday." 

While Via Sistina is favoured to win on Saturday – she is the current $1.70 top elect – Waller is not discounting the chances of Atishu. 

Atishu won the Champions Stakes last year and finally broke through for her first win in the Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) last Saturday. 

"Atishu has got a great record of backing up in seven days," Waller said. 

"The first run they go in a little bit underdone, and she won the race in the final few strides. 

"She's come through it well. She spent the first couple of days of the week at the beach and it's just perfect weather for horses at the moment, they're not having to be rugged up and they're getting plenty of sun on their backs. 

"We are confident that she'll back up well and race accordingly." 


Racing and Sports

Flemington

Thursday, 07th November 2024

8
17:10
(local)

Crown Oaks (G1)

Age: 3yo Sex: F Type: OPEN Fastest Time: 2:36.83 Mostly Cloudy 16 Sep 2023 Qlty SOT:G
AUD $1,000,000
2500m TURF GOOD 4
8
17:10
(local)
AUD $1,000,000
2500m GOOD 4

Crown Oaks (G1)

Age: 3yo Sex: F Type: OPEN Fastest Time: 2:36.83 Mostly Cloudy 16 Sep 2023 Qlty SOT:G
Tab
Form
Silk Horse, Age & Sex
Sire & Dam
Jockey
BP
Trainer
WT
1
x2111
TREASURETHE MOMENT (AUS) 3yo F
ALABAMA EXPRESS (AUS) - DRACONIC TREASURE (USA)
DAMIAN LANE
12
MATT LAURIE
56kg
2
x7111
TOO DARN DISCREET (AUS) 3yo F
TOO DARN HOT (GB) - MAYBE DISCREET (AUS)
MICHAEL DEE
3
DAN O'SULLIVAN
56kg
3
x1124
HARLEM QUEEN (AUS) 3yo F
BRUTAL (NZ) - HARLEM RIVER (AUS)
BLAKE SHINN
5
NATHAN DOYLE
56kg

Sales Information

4
x0747
RAG QUEEN (AUS) 3yo F
D'ARGENTO (AUS) - VICTORY DAY (AUS)
CHAD SCHOFIELD
4
DAVID PAYNE
56kg

Sales Information

5
43412
POWERS OF OPAL (NZ) 3yo F
OCEAN PARK (NZ) - STRADA CAVALLO (NZ)
JAMES MCDONALD
9
J G SARGENT
56kg

Sales Information

6
4125
PLEASURE ARTIST (AUS) 3yo F
TRAPEZE ARTIST (AUS) - PERFECT PLEASURE (AUS)
CRAIG WILLIAMS
6
R & W FREEDMAN
56kg

Sales Information

7
41336
TALISAY (AUS) 3yo F
PRIDE OF DUBAI (AUS) - MYKAETOB (AUS)
BILLY EGAN
8
BYRON COZAMANIS
56kg

Sales Information

8
1x963
FEMMINILE (AUS) 3yo F
DUNDEEL (NZ) - FEMME FIREBALL (AUS)
DANIEL STACKHOUSE
13
PHILLIP STOKES
56kg

Sales Information

9
x3363
KILLCARE BEACHGIRL (AUS) 3yo F
TOO DARN HOT (GB) - ABSOLUTE JOY (NZ)
TIM CLARK
2
G WATERHOUSE & A BOTT
56kg
10
21128
NOISES (AUS) 3yo F
MICROPHONE (AUS) - BEETOBEE (JPN)
ANDREW ADKINS
11
BRAD WIDDUP
56kg

Sales Information

11
6115
HURRY CURRY (NZ) 3yo F
OCEAN PARK (NZ) - HURRY (NZ)
JOAO MOREIRA
7
DANNY O'BRIEN
56kg

Sales Information

12
25244
INEVITABLE TRUTH (AUS) 3yo F
FASTNET ROCK (AUS) - SCARLETINI (AUS)
JYE MCNEIL
1
J G SARGENT
56kg

Sales Information

13
2421
PLACID PEARL (AUS) 3yo F
D'ARGENTO (AUS) - SOUTH PEARL (AUS)
BEN MELHAM
14
MATTHEW SMITH
56kg

Sales Information

14
34489
ALL KINDS OF FOLK (AUS) 3yo F
D'ARGENTO (AUS) - SHE BRINGS HOPE (AUS)
LUKE CURRIE
10
JOHN & CHRIS LEDGER
56kg

Sales Information

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