Via Sistina taken no ill effects from Valley trackwork scare ahead of Cox Plate

The Chris Waller stable is taking positives from Via Sistina’s trackwork incident earlier this week with the mare on track for Saturday’s Cox Plate.

Cox Plate drawcard Via Sistina is back on track and “ready to go Saturday” for Australia’s best race at The Valley.

Champion trainer Chris Waller took Via Sistina to The Valley on Thursday for a quiet workout under trusted Sydney-based track rider Chris Harwood.

Via Sistina sensationally dropped jockey James McDonald at The Valley on Tuesday after taking fright from a gear malfunction and completed two laps riderless.

Hardwood rode Via Sistina on Thursday to help Waller get a guide on what effect the additional gallop has had on the dual hemisphere multiple Group 1 winner.

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“I’ll be honest with you, I reckon it might’ve even brought her on, livened her up a little bit,” Hardwood said in update posted by Chris Waller Racing.

“She was very sharp around there today, cornered well, wanted to get moving from the 600m which is always a good sign, I couldn’t fault her.

“In all honesty, it would be an injustice not to run her, (Melbourne track rider) Steve (Arnold) reckons she was in great form moving into Saturday and I couldn’t agree more.”

Via Sistina is a solid $4 second favourite with Ladbrokes for the Cox Plate behind Japanese star Prognosis ($3.80).

High profile Australian weight-for-age superstars Mr Brightside ($8.50) and Pride Of Jenni ($5) dominate the early betting - weight of money and number of wagers - from Prognosis and Broadsiding.

Via Sistina was back @TheValley this morning - she feels great, is bright and worked well. @YulongInvestpic.twitter.com/Kyu4v75jp5

— Chris Waller Racing (@cwallerracing) October 23, 2024

Via Sistina enjoyed a “nice morning out, get her confidence back” at The Valley on Thursday.

She walked around the pre-parade ring for 30 mins before the quiet canter inside stablemate Firestorm, set to contest the Tesio Stakes on Saturday at The Valley.

“We brought Chris Harwood down from Sydney just to make sure she’s 100 per cent and comparing to how she is back in Sydney,” Waller said.

“Lovely and relaxed (morning) just beautiful, that’s all I wanted them to do ... nice easy morning, confidence, ready to go Saturday.”

Waller’s Melbourne-based track rider Steven Arnold echoed Hardwood’s assessment.

“Really happy with her, she was going really nicely into the Turnbull (Stakes) and I actually think she’s improved,” Cox Plate-winning jockey Arnold said.

“When she pulled up after her work she was really alert in the eye and the coat and that looks actually better than it’s looked the whole time.”

Via Sistina completed a recovery session at Altona Beach on Wednesday with stablemate Atishu.

Originally published as Via Sistina taken no ill effects from Valley trackwork scare ahead of Cox Plate