Post-race jockey reports from the 2025 Queen Elizabeth Stakes

This is what the jockeys had to say after the running of the Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick on Saturday.

James McDonald celebrates after Via Sistina won the Queen Elizabeth Stakes. Photo: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images.

Chris Waller’s champion mare Via Sistina emulated the great Winx when taking out the $5 million Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on Saturday.

Via Sistina’s win was her seventh Group 1 victory of the season, equalling the Australian record that Winx achieved in her final season of racing in 2018/19.

Via Sistina overcame being pocketed in the early part of the straight to defeat Dubai Honour with Tom Kitten finishing third.

The champ Via Sistina claims the G1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes with ease, equalling Winx's record of 7 Group 1's in a season! 🤩 What a mare!@cwallerracing | @mcacajamez | @YulongInvest | @aus_turf_club | @WorldPoolpic.twitter.com/oMBNGpAyv8

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 12, 2025

The win was Via Sistina’s 13th from 24 starts and took her earnings to more than $12.7 million.

The seven-year-old mare by Fastnet Rock was ridden by James McDonald.

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

1st - VIA SISTINA (James McDonald) Chris (Waller) just trains her up beautifully every time, he did it for a Cox Plate, he’s done it for the Queen Elizabeth. You could poke holes in her performances coming into today because she hasn’t been winning by big margins, but that’s the type of horse she is now, she only does what she has to. She felt like she was going to rip away and then at the furlong she’s just doing enough. Very good horse. There was one little worrying moment, I thought the one I was following was going to kick for a gap and he just didn’t go for it and I ended up back off him, but she was superior, once I got those gaps, she sliced through and went bang.

2nd - DUBAI HONOUR (Tom Marquand) He has run a huge race in defeat. Beaten by a good mare. Had a horrible run around. Whether it would have been enough to turn it around I don’t know.

3rd - TOM KITTEN (Ben Melham) Thrilled with his run. He’s run right out of his skin. Been beaten a short margin by some superstars. Tremendous effort.

4th - LINDERMANN (Nash Rawiller) He was very gallant. Got a nice spot. Rolled at a genuine tempo. Just tried to use his break to his advantage. I thought he did us very proud.

5th - CEOLWULF (Chad Schofield) Thought he was brave. We got a bad draw from the outset. Had to go back and cover a lot of ground. Tried to cut the corner on the home turn.

6th - ROUSHAM PARK (Christophe Lemaire) Very good race. I was behind Dubai Honour but I couldn’t accelerate in the straight.

7th - BUCKAROO (Tommy Berry) He got into a really nice rhythm. I thought I was the winner coming around the corner. Just second up, 2000m. He got bumped a couple of times down the straight. He does enjoy getting to the outside. Brisbane Winter carnival looks very well suited there.

8th - FAWKNER PARK (Tyler Schiller) I thought he was in the right spot today. We had Via inside of us. My horse had a good run through. Just wasn’t sharp enough late when we needed him.

9th - MIDDLE EARTH (Jamie Melham) He just needs further now.

10th - VAUBAN (Tim Clark) Just found them a bit sharp for him coming back in trip. Especially on such good ground as well. He’s had a good prep.

11th - LIGHT INFANTRY MAN (Ethan Brown) On face value an end of prep run.

12th - DENY KNOWLEDGE (Mark Zahra) She wasn’t herself today. Took a fair while to get to the front. And then when I asked there was nothing there a fair way out.

13th - GEOGLYPH (Damian Lane) Just hasn’t been himself in either of his two runs in Sydney. Unfortunately not at his best.

Originally published as Post-race jockey reports from the 2025 Queen Elizabeth Stakes