Trainer Chris Waller eyes historic milestone with champion mare Via Sistina in 2025 Ranvet Stakes at Rosehill Gardens

Wenona Girl is the last mare to win two Ranvets (formerly Rawson Stakes) in 1961 and 1964 … but Via Sistina is a long odds-on favourite to achieve the feat on Saturday.

Via Sistina and her trainer Chris Waller are closing in on significant milestones at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

Super mare Via Sistina is attempting to become the first mare in more than 60 years to have repeat success in the Group 1 $1 million Ranvet Stakes (2000m).

Wenona Girl is the last mare to win two Ranvets (formerly Rawson Stakes) in 1961 and 1964 but Via Sistina is a long odds-on favourite to achieve the feat on Saturday.

If Via Sistina win as widely expected, it will be her sixth Group 1 success of the season. She has already won the Winx Stakes (1400m), Turnbull Stakes (2000m), Cox Plate (2040m), Champions Stakes (2000m) and Verry Elleegant Stakes (1600m).

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Only five horses have managed to win at least six Group 1 races in a season since the Group and Listed Classification system was introduced in 1978.

The great Kingston Town was the first to win six Group 1 races in a season when he dominated during 1979-80 with big race wins in the Spring Champion Stakes, Rosehill Guineas, Tancred Stakes, AJC Australian Derby, Sydney Cup and Queensland Derby.

Weekend Hussler achieved the feat in 2007-08 when he won the Caulfield Guineas, Coolmore Stud Stakes, Oakleigh Plate, Newmarket Handicap, Randwick Guineas and George Ryder Stakes.

It all pays off for Via Sistina, who’s added another G1 to her name as she wins the Ranvet Stakes for her first win in Australia!@aus_turf_club@[e-mail]/oaTXtmse2u

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 23, 2024

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The unbeatable Black Caviar won six Group 1 races in successive seasons.

In 2010-11, she won the Champions Sprint, Lightning Stakes, Newmarket Handicap, William Reid Stakes, TJ Smith Stakes and BTC Cup.

Black Caviar repeated the feat in 2011-12 with her wins in the Champions Sprint, Orr Stakes, Lightning Stakes, Sangster Stakes, The Goodwood and Diamond Jubilee Stakes.

Winx, Waller’s all-time great mare, twice won six Group 1 races in a season and then in her final racing season, she set a record with seven majors.

In 2016-17, Winx won the George Main Stakes, Caulfield Stakes, Cox Plate, Chipping Norton Stakes, George Ryder Stakes and Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

Waller followed similar race programs with Winx in the next two seasons and in 2017-18 she won the George Main Stakes, Turnbull Stakes, Cox Plate, Chipping Norton Stakes, George Ryder Stakes and Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

RACE REPLAY: 2018 Queen Elizabeth Stakes, WINX comes from last to win in emphatic style to make it 25 x straight wins and a world record 18 x G1's. Vision @SkyRacingAU // #gowinx#winxhorsepic.twitter.com/7QUATByWTU

— Winx (Official)Ⓜ️Ⓜ️Ⓜ️Ⓜ️ (@winx_horse) April 14, 2018

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Winx retired after her triumphant 2018-19 campaign that resulted in seven Group 1 wins in the Winx Stakes, George Main Stakes, Turnbull Stakes, Cox Plate, Chipping Norton Stakes, George Ryder Stakes and Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

Anamoe won six Group 1 races in 2022-23 in the Winx Stakes, George Main Stakes, Caulfield Stakes, Cox Plate, Verry Elleegant Stakes and George Ryder Stakes.

Kingston Town, Weekend Hussler, Black Caviar, Winx and Anamoe won Horse of the Year during their dominant seasons and Via Sistina surely clinches racing’s highest honour if she wins the Ranvet Stakes.

Waller prepared his 14th Group 1 winner of the season when Lady Shenandoah took out the Coolmore Classic last week.

The champion trainer needs another five Group 1 wins this season to eclipse the all-time record of 18 major race winners he set in 2018-19, eclipsing the best results achieved by legendary trainers Tommy Smith (17 Group wins set in 1979/80) and Bart Cummings (16 wins in 1974/75).

Originally published as Trainer Chris Waller eyes historic milestone with champion mare Via Sistina in 2025 Ranvet Stakes at Rosehill Gardens