‘She will mean business’: Chris Waller’s warning for Via Sistina’s rivals in 2025 Verry Elleegant Stakes at Royal Randwick

Trainer Chris Waller says Via Sistina will be given galloping room to ensure she’s not ‘caught in behind stayers’ as she chases victory in Saturday’s Group 1 Verry Elleegant Stakes at Royal Randwick.

Trainer Chris Waller has declared Via Sistina “will mean business” in her highly-anticipated rematch with gun stablemate Fangirl as his heavyweight stable sit in the box seat for a Group 1 double at Royal Randwick.

Waller has an embarrassment of riches set to line up in Sydney with the short priced favourites in both the Group 1 $1 million Verry Elleegant Stakes (1600m) and Group 1 $750,000 Surround Stakes (1400m).

Via Sistina ($1.85 favourite) is set for a rematch with gun stablemate Fangirl ($3.20) in the Verry Elleegant while star filly Lady Shenandoah is also the horse to beat in the Surround.

Fangirl had Via Sistina’s measure when the pair met first-up in the Group 2 Apollo Stakes but the gap between the pair is expected to close as they step up to a mile.

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“Fangirl is very good at a mile and has won some nice races at that distance and Via Sistina is starting to get into her range,” Waller said.

“The draws favour Fangirl.

“Via Sistina, it’s interesting because I would say if James (McDonald) was given the option to draw one or eight, he would take eight because she will need some galloping room.

“She will mean business, she will have some galloping room.

“We don’t want to get caught in behind stayers.”

Waller has won the Verry Elleegant Stakes, formerly known as the Chipping Norton Stakes, on 10 occasions and will saddle up four runners in the feature.

Lindermann ($13) ran a determined second behind Fangirl in the Apollo Stakes while The Metropolitan winner Land Legend ($71) returns from a break.

We are fans!!!

Fangirl makes it back-to-back Apollo Stakes 🙌@cwallerracing | @aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/a0XgcxkMs0

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) February 15, 2025

• EXPERT TIPS: Professional punter James Molony’s race-by-race tips and analysis for Royal Randwick on Saturday

“Lindermann come through the race well,” Waller said.

“If he keeps racing like this, he will head towards the Ranvet. He won the Rosehill Guineas on that day and he won the Sky High Stakes on the same day.

“Land Legend seems to be settling better so the key this prep is for him to continue that.

“If I can get him to settle over 2400m, he will win a big race and hopefully it’s the Tancred.”

Lady Shenandoah, to be ridden by James McDonald, is a $1.55 chance in the Surround Stakes.

The daughter of Snitzel backed up an unbeaten spring campaign that saw her win the Group 1 Flight Stakes with an impressive first-up victory in the Group 2 Light Fingers Stakes.

She is Waller’s latest high quality filly from a long list of top liners he has put the polish on.

How she measures up against her predecessors remains to be seen, according to Waller.

One for the ladies! Lady Shenandoah absolutely smashes them in the G2 TAB Light Fingers Stakes and wins with her ears pricked!@ZacLloydx | @cwallerracing | @aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/tfZu9PgjlC

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) February 15, 2025

• Ray Thomas’s verdict: Who will win the Verry Elleegant Stakes?

“Winx didn’t quite get there and do what she is doing quite early,” Waller said.

“Zougotcha did it and went missing the next prep but came back in the autumn.

“They are all different but one thing I will say about this horse, she wasn’t heavily raced as two-year-old with two starts and two starts in the spring where she won them.

“She probably gets up to a mile.

“But what we saw with Joliestar, we haven’t got her back to a mile since the Thousand Guineas so we are keeping things very open but I don’t think we will stretch her out too far because she’s showing so much brilliance.”

While Lady Shenandoah is the clear headliner, Waller will saddle up a string of high quality fillies in the feature.

Former Kiwi galloper Movin Out ($81) will have her first Australian start while Declichy Boulevard ($34), Lazzura ($21) and Amelita ($34) all finished in behind Lady Shenandoah in the Light Fingers.

• Clinton Payne’s runner-by-runner analysis plus tips for 2025 Verry Elleegant Stakes

“Declichy Boulevard will improve significantly over 1400m with Nash Rawiller from a good draw,” Waller said.

“Amelita has drawn wide again. She settled well the other day and finished off well. Had it not been a Group 1, she would be running in a sprint race but it’s a Group 1 and she deserves her chance.

“She will need luck from the barrier.

“Lazzura drew well in barrier one with Tommy Berry back and her run was terrific as have been most of her career starts so she can run top three.

“Movin Out is more our Vinery, Oaks-type filly.”

Originally published as ‘She will mean business’: Chris Waller’s warning for Via Sistina’s rivals in 2025 Verry Elleegant Stakes at Royal Randwick