Via Sistina all heart in second Cox Plate win

MELBOURNE Top Sydney trainer Chris Waller could not have described the final Cox Plate on the soon to be rebuilt Moonee Valley racecourse any better.

"It was a classic Cox Plate," he said.

That came moments after watching Via Sistina hold off stablemate Buckaroo to win the 105th and final A$6 million (S$5.1 million) Group 1 Cox Plate (2,040m) on Oct 25, before the Moonee Valley racecourse is transformed and reconfigured.

It was the Fastnet Rock eight-year-old's second success in the Cox Plate. In 2024, she set a record-breaking romp where she scored by eight lengths in track-record time.

This time, the champion mare had to call on all her reserves to withstand the stinging challenge from Buckaroo, before providing jockey James McDonald with his fourth consecutive Cox Plate win and Waller's sixth victory in Australia's weight-for-age championship event.

Sent out as the $10 favourite, Via Sistina scored by half a head from Buckaroo (Mark Zahra), with the Matt Laurie-trained Treasurethe Moment (Damian Lane) a further 1½ lengths away in third.

"It was a great race," said Waller.

"James had to get going early and everyone could see him. He was five wide turning for home.

"She was great, and Treasurethe Moment was awesome and gave her something to chase. I'm glad Via won and Buckaroo, he's run out of his skin."

Waller said joining Jack Holt on six victories, and being one shy of Tommy Smith's, would not replace his first win with Winx back in 2014. He said the first win was special, while the rest are bonuses.

Besides acknowledging McDonald's hard work, an emotional Waller also paid tribute to his staff who looked after the horses while he was away interstate, preparing his team for big race days.

"It's confidence," Waller said of Via Sistina and McDonald's relationship. "James worked months on this. He's loyal, so dedicated.

"He's only had eyes for Via Sistina and set everything in this race for her and Buckaroo almost undid it.

"Candice and Sebastian, they look after her. There are also other staff. I'm so proud of them all."

McDonald said he could now comprehend the pressure top Australian jockey Hugh Bowman went through on scoring aboard Winx four years on the trot, from 2015 to 2018.

After scoring on the James Cummings-trained Anamoe in 2022, McDonald went on to take the race with Danny Shum's Romantic Warrior in 2023 before Via Sistina in the last two years.

"I'm always toey in terms of nervous energy, but I put it to good use," said the champion jockey.

"I suppose that is part of the business where we're riding the best horse in Australia, but God, how did Hughey do it with Winx?

"I'm so proud of her. She deserves to be in the same breath as Sunline (2000 and 2001 winner) and those sort of horses with two Cox Plates.

"I'm just rapt that it was a proper run Cox Plate. That's what Cox Plates are all about. Best horse shone through, and she deserves all she gets."

In 2026, the Cox Plate moves to Flemington while Moonee Valley undergoes a rebuild.

Over in Sydney, promising three-year-old colt Attica ($17) - trained by Joseph Pride - overhauled race favourite Shangri La Boy to take out Randwick's A$2 million Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes (2,000m) at only his third start. RACING AND SPORTS