Post-race jockey reports from the 2024 Champions Stakes

This is what the jockeys had to say after the running of the Champions Stakes at Flemington on Saturday.

Via Sistina winning the Champions Stakes at Flemington on Saturday. Photo: Jay Town/Getty Images.

Via Sistina confirmed her billing as Australia’s best racehorse when scoring another dominant win in the $3 million Group 1 Champions Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on Saturday.

The imported mare made it four Group 1 successes for the spring when backing up her Cox Plate demolition with another easy victory by a widening 2-3/4 lengths.

Via Sistina defeated last Saturday’s Empire Rose Stakes winner Atishu and last year’s Caulfield and Melbourne Cup winner Without A Fight.

WOW! The superstar of Australian racing Via Sistina dominates the $3 million Group 1 TAB Champions Stakes. JMac with a perfect 10 ⭐

🎥 @wwos | #StakesDay | #MelbCupCarnivalpic.twitter.com/wd6nRG1qhA

— Victoria Racing Club (@FlemingtonVRC) November 9, 2024

The victory was Via Sistina’s 10th from 20 starts and took her earnings to more than $5 million.

Via Sistina is a seven-year-old mare by Fastnet Rock, she was ridden by James McDonald and is trained by Chris Waller.

This is what the riders thought of their mount’s performance in the Champions Stakes.

1st – VIA SISTINA (James McDonald) That was awesome. Everything just went beautifully to plan. I had the horse to really give me a smooth ride. 600m, 400m, I was just like changing gears and she just went. It’s been an enjoyable ride. How you compare it, felt pretty good today. She was never in doubt. The nice building pace suited her. She just keeps going to a new level. She enjoys her work and the work as she loves it and she puts that into her race as well. She’s very good and today was an absolute joy and pleasure and I had so much fun on her. Her performance speaks for itself.

2nd – ATISHU (Jye McNeil) She performed really well from a good draw and the winners was too good but I thought her performance was great.

3rd – WITHOUT A FIGHT (Mark Zahra) Went super. Couldn’t be happier with a return like that. Followed Via Sistina, was a good solid run race but I was able to quick up behind her for most of the straight and then she left him late. He’ll benefit from that and I think he’ll be very hard to beat in Hong Kong in that race.

4th – FUTURE HISTORY (Dylan Browne McMonagle) Really good run. Definitely his career best. Plenty of good horses behind him. Really happy.

5th – ARAPAHO (Ben Melham) He ran terrific. Just the draw was of no favour to him. If he does draw a gate and you take the winner out he is right in the finish.

6th – DOCKLANDS (Declan Bates) He’s run really well. We were a bit slowly away which cost him his chance of maybe running a place. From where we were he really quickened up well but got tired inside the last 100 (metres) but ran a really good race.

7th – DENY KNOWLEDGE (Damian Lane) She tried hard. Always honest.

8th – ELIYASS (Nash Rawiller) Honest as the day is long. Probably at the end of his prep.

9th – DUKE DE SESSA (Harry Coffey) He wasn’t the same today but maybe the track was a bit fast for him. Obviously likes when it is a bit softer but maybe today the surface (and) after a peak performance the other day may have brought him undone.

10th – NUGGET (Michael Dee) Travelled very strongly in the run and probably didn’t see out the 2000m.

11th – ROYAL CHAMPION (Craig Williams) He gave me a beautiful ride from a wide draw. We got a lovely sweet spot but when I placed him under pressure he failed to respond to my riding.

Originally published as Post-race jockey reports from the 2024 Champions Stakes