Yu Long Investments‘ mare Via Sistina, now trained by Chris Waller, lived up to the hype with a resounding victory in her Australian debut at the 2024 Ranvet Stakes.
2024 Ranvet Stakes winner Via Sistina impressed winning her Australian debut at Rosehill for trainer Chris Waller. Photo: Steve Hart.
The Fastnet Rock mare demonstrated her world-class ability, overcoming a slow pace to outclass a select field and claim the prestigious Group 1 $1 million Ranvet Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill on Golden Slipper Day.
Jockey James McDonald continued his stellar form, securing his 91st Group 1 win with a patient ride on the well-backed import.
He settled Via Sistina at the rear of the field as Think It Over, the recent Verry Elleegant Stakes winner, set a leisurely pace.
Despite controlling the race, Think It Over faded rapidly in the home straight, ultimately finishing fourth.
Meanwhile, Via Sistina stalked the other Yu Long import, Place Du Carrousel, before launching a powerful outside surge.
Displaying impressive talent, she overcame the slow tempo and powered to victory by one and a half lengths.
The Anthony & Sam Freedman-trained Place Du Carrousel finished runner-up, with Waller’s Buckaroo securing third place.
With this win, Via Sistina, now a two-time Group 1 champion at the age of six, has a wealth of options for the remainder of the autumn carnival.
The $5 million Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on April 13th appears as a likely target and McDonald is confident she’ll be hard to beat off what she did first-up in the Ranvet.
“She’s got a big motor and, dare I say it, I think she’ll improve off that,” the hoop told Sky Thoroughbred Central.
“Slow speed, fast speed, wet or dry, it doesn’t matter.
“(Off a) fast pace she is going to really let rip. A big field will help her too over the Randwick 2000, so we’re looking forward to that in two or three weeks.
“Her work has been good, but I thought she’d improve off her work so that’s something to go there with huge confidence.
“She actually let out a little whinny out of the gates and I thought, ‘what’s going on here’ because it doesn’t mean good signs when they do that.
“But she’s come here in good order and she’s obviously going to be prepped up beautifully (for the Queen Elizabeth Stakes).”
Following William Haggas’ Dubai Honour, who completed the Ranvet Stakes-Queen Elizabeth Stakes double last year, Via Sistina is now the clear favourite in the all-in Queen Elizabeth Stakes market at Ladbrokes with odds shortening to $3.
2024 Ranvet Stakes Results
| Finish | No. | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Bar. | Weight | Penalty | Starting Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6 | VIA SISTINA (IRE) | Chris Waller | James McDonald | 6 | 57kg | $2.30F | |||
| 2 | 7 | PLACE DU CARROUSEL (IRE) | Anthony & Sam Freedman | Tommy Berry | 1.2L | 4 | 57kg | $6 | ||
| 3 | 3 | BUCKAROO (GB) | Chris Waller | Ryan Moore | 1.27L | 2 | 59kg | $9 | ||
| 4 | 1 | THINK IT OVER | Kerry Parker | Nash Rawiller | 1.6L | 1 | 59kg | $3.20 | ||
| 5 | 2 | MILITARY MISSION (IRE) | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Adam Hyeronimus | 2.34L | 5 | 59kg | $18 | ||
| 6 | 4 | ZEYREK (FR) | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | Hugh Bowman | 2.63L | 3 | 59kg | $14 | ||
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Table Credit: Racing Australia.
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