Chris Waller continued his remarkable dominance of Sydney’s Group 1 races, training the trifecta in the 2025 Verry Elleegant Stakes, with Cox Plate champion Via Sistina returning to her winning ways.

Chris Waller won the Verry Elleegant Stakes for the 11th time in 2025 with Via Sistina. Photo: © 2025 – Bradley Photos.

The Fastnet Rock mare, after finishing third in the Apollo Stakes, triumphed in the $1 million Verry Elleegant Stakes over the Randwick mile defeating stablemates Fangirl and Lindermann.

“I knew it was going to be a battle of tactics, and James (McDonald, on Via Sistina) was concerned about the draw, in terms of where we would get to,” Waller told Sky Thoroughbred Central.

“The track is racing pretty quick today and it’s hard to make up a lot of ground. So, the last 200m I was proud, simple as that. Unfortunately, there had to be a winner.”

Via Sistina ($1.60F) prevailed by 0.36 lengths over Fangirl ($3.30), with Lindermann ($11) completing the trifecta.

The mare led the field around the turn, engaging in a thrilling duel with Fangirl, ultimately prevailing in the final strides.

Fangirl’s second-place finish marked her third consecutive runner-up finish in the race, while Lindermann was also third last year.

James McDonald‘s return to the saddle proved decisive, delivering a perfectly timed ride.

This victory marked a Group 1 double for both McDonald and Waller, following their earlier success with Lady Shenandoah in the Surround Stakes.

“It’s been a great story,” Waller said of Via Sistina’s journey.

“Twelve months ago, she wasn’t even in our lives, just a horse in quarantine and we were just starting getting to know her.

“And what’s happened in the past 12 months, it’s quite remarkable.

“As with Fangirl, she was here last year and then she went missing, and she couldn’t run in the George Ryder.

“And Lindermann has had a setback as well, so they’ve all come back and done us very proud. It’s a great thrill.”

Waller’s victory marked his 11th win in the race, including Winx’s four consecutive wins and Verry Elleegant’s dual victories.

“I’ll have a talk to the Yulong team,” Waller said about Via Sistina’s next start.

“I’ll give them my plan and make sure that we’re peaking for the Queen Elizabeth.

“Whether we do that through the George Ryder or the Ranvet on the same day.

“Traditionally I would normally go to the George Ryder but with her I’d be more inclined to go to the Ranvet because I think she’s a better 2000m horse.

“She showed when she won the Cox Plate, that she actually ran three 2000m races.

“She won the Turnbull, the Cox Plate and then she won on the last day.

“So, she can sustain herself at 2000m, where Fangirl might just breathe a sigh of relief.”

McDonald expressed confidence in Via Sistina’s future performances.

“There’s no guarantees in racing, but she’s going to be awfully hard to beat, especially now that that second-up run is out of the way,” he said.

“We all know what she can do third and fourth-up, and her big one is fourth-up, so that’s when she won her Cox Plate.

“Hopefully she can get somewhere near that. She probably won’t ever get near that again but at least she can get somewhere near that.

“We know it’s probably not going to happen again, but all she’s got to do is run within a length or two, or even three, so I’m sure she’s come back in that sort of order.

“The way she won the Cox Plate was unbelievable, so we’re under no illusions she’s going to do that again. But we hope so.”

Via Sistina is now the $2 favourite for the Group 1 $5 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) through Ladbrokes with the feature set to run back at Randwick on April 12.

2025 Verry Elleegant Stakes Results 

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

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