Chris Waller‘s reigning Australian Racehorse of the Year, Via Sistina, is the short favourite looking to bounce back from a last-start loss and return to her brilliant best in Saturday’s Turnbull Stakes 2025 at HQ.
Via Sistina is favourite to go back-to-back with a successful Turnbull Stakes title defence this weekend. Photo: Bradley Photos.
The defending Ladbrokes Cox Plate queen was beaten in the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) by historic three-time champion Mr Brightside, but the punters have been quick to forgive the loss, especially with the mare now rising to 2000m.
Via Sistina Follows Famous Footsteps
The eight-year-old daughter of Fastnet Rock follows the identical path she took last year when she claimed the Turnbull Stakes before her dominant eight-length Cox Plate triumph.
She now looks to become the first two-time Turnbull Stakes champion since the stable’s own four-time Cox Plate hero Winx (2017-18). She leads the markets at $2.30 and firming in Turnbull Stakes betting at Ladbrokes.
Star hoop James McDonald sticks in the saddle and offered a glowing post-race report after the Makybe Diva loss: “Very good run. Sit and sprint, she dashed well.”
Waller, a six-time Turnbull Stakes winning trainer, saddles up five runners in total, including the second favourite, Aeliana ($5).
The five-length ATC Derby winning filly is third-up now and shapes as a huge danger, coming off back-to-back seconds in the Winx Stakes and Makybe Diva.
Jockey Damian Lane sticks with the genuine staying type, who is now up to a more suitable trip.
Major Threats and Spring Cup Hopes
The other single-figure contender is the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained import Sir Delius ($6).
The nicely bred son of Frankel is on his way to the Spring Cups and is being kept safe in the markets following his gutsy win in last Saturday’s Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m).
Big race specialist Craig Williams retains the ride, but the pair has work to do from the outside barrier 14.
The best of the double-figure threats include Tony Gollan‘s Doomben Cup champion Antino ($10), who carries the 59kg topweight and finished only two lengths away in the Makybe Diva, and Half Yours ($11), who was impressive with a runaway 3.5-length win in the Group 3 Naturalism Stakes.
Waller’s other hopes include Land Legend ($61), Moira ($27), and River Of Stars ($126).
The 2025 Turnbull Stakes is scheduled as Flemington Race 8 at 4:25 pm (AEST) on Saturday.
2025 Turnbull Stakes Field & Barrier Draw
| No | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Barrier | Weight | Age | Sex | Last Starts | Prize Money |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Antino | Blake Shinn | Tony Gollan | 6 | 59kg | 7 | G | 11×54 | $3,161,365 |
| 2 | Land Legend | Jye McNeil | Chris Waller | 10 | 58kg | 5 | G | 8×395 | $1,351,017 |
| 3 | Sir Delius | Craig Williams | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | 14 | 58kg | 4 | H | x1x21 | $1,044,638 |
| 4 | Via Sistina | James McDonald | Chris Waller | 1 | 57kg | 7 | M | 11×13 | $13,553,047 |
| 5 | Moira | Ben Melham | Chris Waller | 11 | 56kg | 6 | M | 0x424 | $4,577,429 |
| 6 | Half Yours | Jamie Melham | Tony & Calvin McEvoy | 4 | 56kg | 5 | G | 12151 | $478,090 |
| 7 | Aeliana | Damian Lane | Chris Waller | 5 | 55kg | 4 | M | 21×22 | $2,583,025 |
| 8 | Young Werther | Billy Egan | Danny O’Brien | 13 | 55kg | 8 | G | 78×63 | $2,216,200 |
| 9 | Adelaide River | Michael Dee | Kris Lees | 9 | 55kg | 5 | G | 4×882 | $1,063,271 |
| 10 | Golden Path | Jordan Childs | Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr | 3 | 55kg | 6 | G | 5×313 | $710,650 |
| 11 | Middle Earth | Mark Zahra | Ciaron Maher | 7 | 55kg | 5 | G | 59×50 | $691,126 |
| 12 | Deakin | Daniel Stackhouse | Phillip Stokes | 12 | 55kg | 5 | G | 11×07 | $444,186 |
| 13 | Zardozi | Harry Coffey | Ciaron Maher | 2 | 53kg | 5 | M | 30×57 | $2,515,000 |
| 14 | River Of Stars | Beau Mertens | Chris Waller | 8 | 53kg | 6 | M | 73×78 | $867,940 |
WHAT ARE YOU PREPARED TO LOSE TODAY? SET A DEPOSIT LIMIT.
For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
This page and the written content within it were partially generated using AI or automated technology and edited and verified by our editorial team.
