Champion mare Via Sistina headlines star-studded Warwick Farm trials on Thursday morning

Leading trainer Chris Waller will unleash an all-star cast of autumn contenders led by Cox Plate champ Via Sistina at the trials on Thursday morning.

Via Sistina will make her first public appearance in 2025 on Thursday. Picture: Jay Town/Racing Photos via Getty Images

Australia’s best horse Via Sistina has returned in “outstanding order” as she prepares to take an important step towards the Autumn carnival at a star-studded morning of trials at Warwick Farm on Thursday.

Leading trainer Chris Waller will unleash an all-star cast of his stable’s best gallopers with the likes of Fangirl, Switzerland, Lady Shenandoah, Private Life and Atishu also among the big names to step out.

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Via Sistina will undoubtedly be the headliner as the six-time Group 1-winning mare begins her latest Australian assault.

Star jockey James McDonald will partner Via Sistina in her first public hitout this year over 900m in a heat that includes six of her stablemates.

Via Sistina only suffered defeat once during the spring on a heavy track in the Makybe Diva but claimed four majors in the Winx Stakes, Turnbull Stakes, Cox Plate and Champions Stakes.

“Historically, Chris with the likes of Winx would spell after a Cox Plate but we went on and Via Sistina went and won the Champions Stakes,” Waller’s assistant trainer Charlie Duckworth said.

“It does mean she had a shorter spell but she has come back in outstanding order.

“She hasn’t put a foot wrong all prep and is sound and clean winded.”

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VIA SISTINA IS THE 2024 COX PLATE CHAMPION! 💚

JAMES MCDONALD NOTCHES UP HIS 100TH GROUP 1! 💯@cwallerracing@mcacajamez@[e-mail]/T0vZZwrfNQ

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) October 26, 2024

An autumn schedule is yet to be 100 per cent locked in for Via Sistina however it’s expected she will resume in the Group 2 Apollo Stakes (1400m) at Royal Randwick on February 15.

A date with the Group 1 Verry Elleegant (formerly Chipping Norton) Stakes (1600m) at Royal Randwick on March 1 before the Group 1 Ranvet Stakes (2000m) on March 22 will likely set the platform for a crack at the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) on April 12.

Flight Stakes winner Lady Shenandoah will line up in the same 900m heat as Via Sistina while star three-year-olds Private Life and Switzerland contest an earlier 900m event with Group 1 mainstay Atishu.

Switzerland will trial on Thursday morning. Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images

McDonald will pilot Fangirl in the third 900m Group trial of the morning.

“It is all of their first trials so they won’t be out to do a lot there at all,” Duckworth said.

“They will be kept under wraps. Every single one of them is having a second trial.

“It’s an exciting time of year and comes around faster each year it seems.

“We are only just closing off spring and they are back trials and while most of the grand finals are preset, there are a couple by how they will trial and how sharp they come back.”

Group 1 placed three-year-old Linebacker will make his first public appearance as a gelding on the morning for trainers John O’Shea and Tom Charlton while Robert and Luke Price’s Queensland Oaks runner-up Our Gold Hope will also step out.

Originally published as Champion mare Via Sistina headlines star-studded Warwick Farm trials on Thursday morning