Leading jockey James McDonald says Via Sistina ‘hasn’t taken a backward step’ ahead of 2024 Champions Stakes at Flemington

Leading jockey James McDonald is ‘under no illusions’ as to the challenge facing Cox Plate superstar Via Sistina in the $3m Champions Stakes (2000m) at Flemington … but there’s no hiding his confidence.

Leading jockey James McDonald is ‘under no illusions’ as to the challenge facing Cox Plate superstar Via Sistina in the $3m Champions Stakes (2000m) at Flemington … but there’s no hiding his confidence.

Via Sistina channelled Winx in the Cox Plate with an eight-length romp in track record time but the Chris Waller-trained multiple Group 1-winner must go again on Saturday.

“I’ve ridden some pretty good horses that competed in a Cox Plate and tried to back up and some of them haven’t done it,” McDonald said.

“Even an Anamoe, who was some horse, and he ran in this race and I think he ran (fourth) – we’re under no illusions it’s going to be a tough ask for her but she seems to be very well.

“She thrives on work and really enjoys it, she hasn’t taken a backward step.”

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Via Sistina is a $1.60 favourite with Ladbrokes to win the Champions Stakes from last year’s winner and Waller stablemate Atishu, fresh off a Group 1 Empire Rose victory last Saturday.

For the fourth-straight year, McDonald will take home the Ron Hutchinson Award for leading jockey at the Melbourne Cup Carnival.

McDonald has banked seven winners – three short of his own four-day carnival record – but has eight rides at Flemington on Saturday including three early market favourites.

“I’m a fair way off to be fair, I’m three to equal and four to beat it,” McDonald said.

“But I’ve got a strong book of rides and if things fall into place, funnier things have happened.

“It would’ve been nice, I had three seconds (Oaks Day) so that probably counted against us but in saying that I’m looking forward to Saturday.

“It would be nice to salute on a couple of those horses.”

• EXPERT TIPS: Mark Guest’s race-by-race tips and quaddie selections for 2024 Champions Day at Flemington

McDonald is riding Sunshine In Paris, a $6.50 chance, in the Group 1 Champions Sprint and Fangirl, also $6.50 with Ladbrokes, in the Champions Mile.

Fangirl is ready to show up fourth-up despite a somewhat plain King Charles III Stakes run – sixth beaten 3.9 lengths – on an unsuitable wet surface.

McDonald accepted responsibility for the result.

“I rode her to really beat Pride Of Jenni because I was a bit close on her and as it turned out it wasn’t the place to be for her, we’re looking to get a better run this time,” McDonald said.

“She’s a tough one to ride against (Pride Of Jenni) but in saying that she’s coming out of a tough race (Cox Plate), whether she’s at her best too?

“I think Fangirl’s preparation has been a lot better (less miles in the legs) and it gives her a chance to show her wares.”

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Fangirl is the fresh horse on the scene, with only three runs under the belt and a three-week gap between races.

“We’ve got a bit of an air of confidence about that race,” McDonald said.

“She looks phenomenal, this is fourth-up, this is her time to shine.”

Originally published as Leading jockey James McDonald says Via Sistina ‘hasn’t taken a backward step’ ahead of 2024 Champions Stakes at Flemington