Trainer Chris Waller set to take wraps off star imported mares Moira and Full Count Felicia in 2025 Ranvet Stakes

Trainer Chris Waller will unveil his latest northern hemisphere Group 1 winners in Saturday’s $1 million Ranvet Stakes. But if Moira and Full Count Felicia are to do a Via Sistina, they must beat … Via Sistina.

Chris Waller will send out Moira and Full Count Felicia for their Australian debuts against Via Sistina in Saturday’s Ranvet Stakes. Picture: Reg Ryan / Racing Photos

These mares have won Group 1 races in the northern hemisphere, are owned by racing juggernaut Yulong, trained by Chris Waller, and will make their Australian race debuts in the $1 million Ranvet Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

Sound familiar? It should because Moira and Full Count Felicia go into the Ranvet Stakes with the same credentials as Via Sistina 12 months ago.

Via Sistina won the Ranvet brilliantly that day and has trained on to win another five Group 1 races this season to be a clear frontrunner for Horse of the Year honours.

But for Moira or Full Count Felicia to make a similar statement on Saturday they must overcome a seemingly insurmountable obstacle – Via Sistina!

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Waller’s super mare is among five stable nominations for the Ranvet that also includes Fangirl and Lindermann.

Fangirl is almost certain to contest the Group 1 $1 million George Ryder Stakes (1500m), leaving Via Sistina as a dominant $1.40 TAB Fixed Odds favourite to go back-to-back in the Ranvet.

Lindermann is at $11 while Moira is at $15 and Full Count Felicia $26 in early betting.

Moira, the champion Canadian mare, hasn’t raced since winning the Group 1 US Breeders Cup Fillies and Mares at Del Mar in California last November.

🇺🇸USA(Del Mar) 02/11/2024 :(GR.1) Moira(Ghostzapper/Devine Aida By Unbridled's Song)

Wins Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf

3 year olds & Upward (Fillies & Mares)
2220 m Turf(02:14:95)

O : X-Men Racing LLC, Madaket Stable LLC & SF Racing LLC
T:Kevin Attard#BC24pic.twitter.com/rea6sqh2Xn

— NAHEEZ RACING نحيز ريسنغ (@musallamqatan) November 2, 2024

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Full Count Felicia ran only seventh in the Del Mar race but at her previous start, she won the Group 1 Taylor Stakes beating Moira at Woodbine in Canada.

Moira and Full Count Felicia, who are also nominated for the Ryder, are stabled at the Canterbury quarantine and stabling facility alongside new Waller stable recruits Anisette, Zarir and River Of Stars and the trainer is undecided if he will run both mares on Saturday.

“We are still working out our options, I’m not sure if we are quite ready to unleash them but if we did it would be Full Count Felicia and Moira,’’ Waller said.

“It will be a matter of what settles in best and how they adapt to Australian racing (conditions).

“We will try to split them up a little bit if we can. River Of Stars is going to the Tancred Stakes, she’s a very talented horse, and Zarir will go to the Tancred and Sydney Cup.

“They are five talented horses provided they adjust quickly, it is only a short turnaround from their arrival.’’

She wasn’t for catching 🚀

FULL COUNT FELICIA barely saw another rival in the G1 EP Taylor Stakes @WoodbineTB@kazushi0096

pic.twitter.com/A3igM65KOi

— World Horse Racing (@WHR) September 14, 2024

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Via Sistina and Fangirl worked impressively on the Rosehill course proper early on Saturday morning and Waller can’t fault his two superstar mares.

“They will separate for the first time this preparation,’’ Waller said. “Via Sistina will go to the Ranvet, Fangirl will go to the Ryder.

“The 2000m suits Via Sistina and the 1500m suits Fangirl.’’

Fangirl is the $2.30 favourite for the Ryder where Waller has seven entries including Buckaroo ($17), Moira ($17), Full Count Felicia ($21), Militarize ($34) and Kovalica ($71) while Via Sistina is also among nominations.

Originally published as Trainer Chris Waller set to take wraps off star imported mares Moira and Full Count Felicia in 2025 Ranvet Stakes