Yulong reveals plan for Via Sistina to defend Cox Plate title in 2025

Yulong has no intention of rushing Cox Plate champion Via Sistina to the breeding barn with a title defence on the cards next year.

Superstar mare Via Sistina will be given the chance to chase back-to-back Cox Plate victories next year after Yulong officially closed the door on a start in Tuesday’s $8m Melbourne Cup (3200m).

Yulong’s chief operating officer Sam Fairgray told News Corp on Wednesday a series of exhaustive discussions centred on the challenge of running in the Cup had been held since her stunning eight-length Cox Plate victory on Saturday, breaking Winx’s track record.

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Those discussions included Yulong’s founder Yuesheng Zhang and master trainer Chris Waller.

But Fairgray stressed the welfare of the seven-year-old champion had always been at the forefront of their minds, given she raced to a peak performance in demolishing a strong Cox Plate field last week.

“The big carrot that the boss (Mr Zhang) ultimately wants to win one day is the Melbourne Cup,” Fairgray said.

“He would love to win it.

“But at the end of the day the horse comes first. Everything was considered and the decision was made that the best thing for her was not to run (in the Cup).

“It was never in our early calculations, so hopefully she can now go to the Champions (Stakes).”

Via Sistina is set to race on next season and defend her Cox Plate. Picture: Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images

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Via Sistina will also bypass a mooted clash with last year’s Cox Plate winner Romantic Warrior in the $8m Hong Kong Cup in December.

But racegoers over the Flemington carnival will be delighted that she will almost certainly tackle Saturday week’s $3m Group 1 Champions Stakes (2000m), where Ladbrokes have installed her as the $1.65 favourite.

“Hong Kong is definitely off (this year),” Fairgray said.

“We have a property at Bayles, so she will go there (after the Champions) and get a rest and we will get set for the autumn, and hopefully another Cox Plate next year.”

Via Sistina, who has won four Group 1s since Yulong purchased her last December, had been backed into Melbourne Cup favouritism in recent days – getting in as short as $4.50.

But the decision to keep the mare at weight-for-age and at 2000m was the right one for the horse’s future, according to Fairgray, as he suggested she would likely race on next season, with another date with the Cox Plate on the cards.

Yulong said on X on Wednesday: “Via Sistina officially ranked the world’s number 1 racehorse! The Cox Plate has always been her main target, to win it is nothing short of a dream.”

“Following this peak performance and after much consideration, it has been decided she will not contest the 2024 Melbourne Cup.”

Originally published as Yulong reveals plan for Via Sistina to defend Cox Plate title in 2025