Saturday summary: Fifty for Waller and McDonald as Via conquers Champion Stakes

Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything

Champion of Champions: Via Sistina clinches 12th Group 1 in Champions Stakes

The mighty 8-year-old mare of Yulong struck again on Saturday at Flemington when felling all before her in the G1 Champions Stakes. Master tactician Chris Waller had faith in his star galloper despite a developing bog track and she dutifully delivered a two and three quarter length victory.

Second last as they entered the home turn in the 2000-metre event, it wasn’t hard for James McDonald to pick a path out wide for Via Sistina (Ire) (Fastnet Rock) and send the mare hurtling to the front when the pack parted around them.

Leader Tom Kitten (Harry Angel {Ire}) stuck on bravely as the mare passed him but was no match for her turn of foot - neither was emerging talent Zambardo (NZ) (Belardo {Ire}), the winner of his last four starts, who chased bravely for second. The latter was having his first start at stakes level altogether.

“Seeing the Sprint, the Mile and now this race, it's giving everyone an extra taste of the great horses,” said Waller. "She was tough today. She went back from the draw, James didn't panic and it was awesome to see her in the straight.”

It's hard to believe what the mare has achieved to date, a sentiment echoed by Waller when reflecting on the last two years with the star mare in his stable.

“We were told she was a very good horse,” he said. “Her international form was something special and it's rare for us to get a really high class horse down here like her, and she was just maturing. We've got her at the right time. They did an amazing job with her over there looking after her. She was a big, raw mare and don't worry about her age. She's just matured.

“They are great owners, Yulong. They're sportsmen, they love their racing. I knew not to ask because I knew they'd have liked her to race here. It was a simple as that.

“They have given the racing public something to cheer for and what a great day it's been with Ceolwulf, Giga Kick and now Via Sistina. Three serious horses on an amazing day of racing. They're tough horses and when you look after them, they look after you.”

The win also marked a remarkable 50th Group 1 win for Waller and McDonald as a team, to which Waller said, "it is an honour to be working with him. It makes my job and possibly his job that little bit easier. There's no pressure, no pre-race stress, and I didn't even give any instructions.

“He said 'I'll go and ride her like Hughie used to ride Winx', best horse in the race, give her some clean air, and I said, 'that sounds good to me'.

“I don't see it as a milestone. He's great to work with. That's a privilege in itself. The relationship works well. There's less pressure when you trust each other. I'd go to war with him and he'd do the same for me.”

“We're not far off one of the greatest combinations in racing history,” said McDonald. “That's something to aim up at. He's been a great supporter of mine and I'm happy to be a part of his team when you ride superstars like this, it's always a pleasure. It was basically a copy and paste from last year, sit back and let her rip.”

Sales: Yulong have spent a collective $6.93 million to acquire Via Sistina, her dam Nigh (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), and her half-sister Via Sienna (Ire) (Bated Breath {GB}), which has been more than eclipsed by the mare’s $19.4 million in earnings to date.

Pedigree: Via Sistina is the standout child of her unraced dam Nigh, who is a half-sister to Britain’s Champion 3YO Sprinter Kingsgate Native (Ire) (Mujadil {USA}). Nigh produced a colt by Too Darn Hot (GB) in 2024 as her most recent documented foal.

Giga Kick bounces back to best in Champions Sprint

Since injury took Giga Kick (Scissor Kick) off the scene for a year from spring 2023 to 2024, it feels like we haven’t quite seen the best of Clayton Douglas’s underdog star. The Everest-winning gelding has placed twice at Group 1 level since his return, including a second to Bella Nipotina (Pride Of Dubai) in the Everest’s first year as a Group 1, but the real Giga Kick didn’t rear his head until a whip-sharp G2 Schillaci Stakes win over Tropicus (Too Darn Hot {GB}) - followed by Saturday’s gutsy win in the G1 VRC Champions Sprint.

Twice Giga Kick has attempted to win a Champions Day race and his third attempt was more than lucky, with the 6-year-old running down the much-fancied Joliestar (Zoustar) in the closing stages, then fending off an attack by Magic Time (Hellbent) to win by a head.

The win continued a remarkable hot streak of form for jockey Mark Zahra during the Cup carnival, delivering his third Group 1 winner of the week.

“It's so good to see him back,” Zahra said. “It got pretty tight in the straight and I thought Magic Time was going to hold me, but the big boy dug deep in the last 50 metres and stuck his head out.”

For Douglas, there was a sense of relief to securing the coveted win.

“Happy days,” he said after the race. “He's a champ, this horse, and I love him. He's done so much for my career and he's taken me everywhere with Group 1 wins in Sydney and Queensland.

“It's his third go at this race. He hasn't had a lot of luck in other years and it worked out perfect today. I was a little concerned with how the weather was, but I thought he would get through the conditions, and he prevailed.

“We aimed him for this race and we got it done. Obviously there was a case for an Everest again, but I really wanted to plan out that we could get this race under the belt and it has come off.”

Boom colt Tentyris (Street Boss {USA}) did not take his place in the field after becoming fractious in the barriers and ultimately being scratched by vets. Connections have indicated the G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes winner will now head for a spell.

Sales: Giga Kick was a homebred for owner Jonathan Munz under his GSA Bloodstock banner.

Pedigree: Giga Kick is both the best offspring of his sire Scissor Kick and of his dam Rekindled Applause (GB) (Royal Applause {GB}), herself a multiple stakes-performed half-sister to three stakes winners, including dual Group 2 winner Rekindled Interest (Redoute’s Choice). She has six stakes-performed descendants, including grandson Alabama Express. Eight of her 10 offspring to race are winners, including her most recent foal, the 4-year-old Pantoja (Pariah).

In form Ceolwulf scoops Champions Mile

Trainer Joe Pride has worked his magic again on Ceolwulf (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}), with the talented 5-year-old gelding adding the lucrative G1 VRC Champions Mile to his record at Flemington on Saturday. Defending his G1 King Charles III Stakes crown at his last start, the gelding headed south to lay claim to the Flemington mile on a Heavy 9 track.

The energy-sapping wet sent all bar Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai) out wide as they entered the home straight, and when Pericles (Street Boss {USA}) let fly, almost at the outside rail, so did Ceolwulf, eventually running the 6-year-old down to win by a nose, with Stefi Magnetica (All Too Hard) four and a half lengths away in third.

“That was fantastic, really special,” Pride said. “I love winning races here. This horse has really turned it on in the second half of the preparation and has strung a couple of very good wins together.

“I thought at the 200 metres that he wasn't enjoying it. He was wandering around a little bit, but as soon as Pericles challenged him, he rallied and it was a really good go to the line with two good horses.

“He's an amazing horse. I'm just so proud of him. I've thought for a long time he's the best horse I've trained and. with his last two wins, he's certainly cemented his spot there. It's great work from the team at home and it's a big effort to get these horses here on the big days. He's never travelled away before, but he's handled it really well and we'll be back.”

With the travelling box ticked for the 5-year-old, Pride was keen to start planning for the autumn and beyond, with a G1 Cox Plate tilt pencilled in, if the gelding demonstrates that the 2000 metres could suit him as well as the mile.

“I'd like to think he can go on for another couple of seasons yet," Pride said. “I'd like to think this confirms his spot despite what people will say about him. Take it easy on him. He's a very good horse. These horses can't perform at that level every time they step out there and I think it is important to acknowledge that.”

Sales: Bred by Cambridge Stud, Ceolwulf was a NZ$170,000 pick-up for his trainer and part-owner Leighton Howl at the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale from Riversley Parks’ draft.

Pedigree: Ceolwulf is the best offspring of Las Brisas (GB) (Shamardal {USA}), an unraced half-sister to stakes-performing Nantyglo (GB) (Mark of Esteem {Ire}). Her dam Bright Halo (Ire) (Bigstone {Ire}) is a half-sister to G1 Irish Oaks winner Moonstone (Ire) (Dalakhani {Ire}), as well as the dams of Honolulu (Ire) and Full Count Felicia (USA) (War Front {USA}), amongst others. Las Brisas delivered a filly by Chaldean (GB) this spring.

Arctic Glamour too flash in Hot Danish redemption

Fifth in this race a year ago to Belclare (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}), it was the smart Arctic Glamour (Frosted {USA}) who prevailed in the G2 Hot Danish Stakes at Rosehill on Saturday, providing her former shuttle sire with a new Group winner in the process. Not to be caught by a fast-finishing Bauhinia (Hellbent), the 5-year-old mare, who is trained by Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou, bounded away in the home straight and hit the line hard to register victory by a third of a length.

“I love her,” an emotional Ryan said post-race. “She should have won more than what she has won. She ran fifth in the Epsom last year, ridden up on speed. A lot of her races she draws bad barriers and got wet tracks.

“After we came home from Queensland, we set her for this race all the way along. She has always had problems with her feet but this time in, nothing. All her runs in Queensland, she was just hopeless on that track up there and the owners were wanting to retire her, and the only two that had faith in her were Sterling and I. It was great.”

Crucial gear and routine changes have brought out the best in the mare, as Alexiou shared, "she normally wears the visors, we put the blinkers on and did a few different things with her. We worked her a bit sharper. She worked over the hurdles this morning just to get her thinking about things again. (We're) completely rapt.”

Sales: Her trainers paid $185,000 for Arctic Glamour when offered by Noorilim Park at the Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale.

Pedigree: The winner of the Listed Reginald Allen Handicap as a 3-year-old, Arctic Glamour is the second Group winner from Galileo (Ire) mare Fartoo Flashy, whose first foal is G3 Chairman’s Stakes winner Waging War (Rebel Raider). A granddaughter of a half-sister to G1 Gadsden Stakes winner Unspoken Word (Mr Illusion), Fartoo Flashy delivered a State Of Rest (Ire) filly this spring and was served by Victor Ludorum (GB) in September.