Atishu eyes stablemate Via Sistina after Empire Rose triumph at Flemington on Derby Day

Atishu went one better in the Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes and will now likely aim for back-to-back Champions Stakes wins, but standing in her way will be Via Sistina.

Chris Waller’s consistent mare Atishu relished the return to Flemington by taking out the $1m Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) to set up a possible showdown with her superstar stablemate Via Sistina next Saturday.

It was Atishu’s third Group 1 success, and her fourth win at headquarters, with Waller planning for her to defend her Champions Stakes victory from last year.

But in her path will be all mighty hurdle – Via Sistina, who broke Winx’s Moonee Valley track record in winning last week’s Cox Plate by a record-equalling eight lengths.

What a finish 😮‍💨

ATISHU comes from nowhere to take out the TAB Empire Rose Stakes.

🎥 @wwos | #DerbyDay | #MelbCupCarnivalpic.twitter.com/G6Pd4S6ul0

— Victoria Racing Club (@FlemingtonVRC) November 2, 2024

Waller is mindful of the setting Atishu the task of taking on one of the in-form mares in the world – albeit he trains them both – but he said she deserved her chance after storming over the top of Amelia’s Jewel in the concluding stages of the Empire Rose.

“She’s a pretty good chance (of taking on Via Sistina in the Group 1 $3m Champions Stakes next week),” Waller said after bagging his third winner on Derby Day, the fourth time he has achieved that feat.

“She’s got some pretty good opposition. She won’t be worried about them, she’ll be saying ‘Look out for me!’.”

Waller said the seven-year-old mare had always been one of the stable favourites who kept producing through the seasons.

“She’s such a beautiful mare … she’s been there for a long time … these horses are so special,” he said.

“The old boys and girls just continue to fly the flag.”

Atishu surges late to defeat Amelia’s Jewel in the Empire Rose Stakes at Flemington. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

James McDonald said he was always confident that a return to Flemington would see Atishu back in the winner’s stall again.

“I was a bit confident all week,” McDonald said.

“Chris had a twinkling in his eye about this horse. I was riding to work on Tuesday and I walked into his office all of a sudden and he goes, ‘Atishu will be winning.’

“I said, ‘That’ll do me’.”

Atishu’s win saw her push through the $5m prizemoney barrier, with her 11th career victory coming from 46 starts.

She won by a head from the brave Amelia’s Jewel, with roughie Socks Nation in third place.

Originally published as Atishu eyes stablemate Via Sistina after Empire Rose triumph at Flemington on Derby Day