2025 Queen Elizabeth Stakes win would put Via Sistina ‘in the Hall of Fame conversation’

Champion mare Via Sistina is racing to emulate the great Winx in the $5 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) on Day Two of The Championships at Royal Randwick this Saturday.

Via Sistina (left) is trying to emulate the great Winx by winning her seventh Group 1 in a season in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Royal Randwick on Saturday. Pictures: File

Champion mare Via Sistina is racing to emulate the great Winx in the $5 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) on Day Two of The Championships at Royal Randwick this Saturday.

Via Sistina is hot favourite to win her seventh Group 1 race of the season in the showpiece race of Sydney’s autumn carnival.

If Via Sistina wins the Queen Elizabeth, she joins Winx as the only horses to win so many majors in one season.

Winx set the record when she won her seventh Group 1 of the 2018-19 racing season in her farewell race, the 2019 Queen Elizabeth Stakes. The great mare retired after her 33rd consecutive win before a bumper crowd of more than 43,000 fans.

Another big Randwick crowd is expected for Day Two of The Championships when Via Sistina races for history against a crack field featuring Australia’s best weight-for-age horses and some international stars.

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Chris Waller trained Winx and also Via Sistina and although he isn’t about to compare the two mares, he has afforded Via Sistina racing’s ultimate accolade.

The Hall of Fame trainer cited Via Sistina’s Cox Plate win last spring when she won by eight lengths and broke the track record as evidence of her elite ability.

“Only a champion is able to do such a thing,’’ Waller said. “Occasionally, you get a fluke performance but she won four Group 1 races last preparation.

“She didn’t just stop after the Cox Plate, she also won (Group 1 Champions Stakes) two weeks later.

“She ticks a lot of boxes in terms of having performed overseas at an elite level and at Group 1 level.

“Then, she brings that form down to the southern hemisphere and not only wins at Group 1 level but dominates at Group 1 level from 1400m to 2000m.’’

🏆 Via Sistina v Winx 🏆

Their two Cox Plate track records side-by-side is incredible viewing 🙌 pic.twitter.com/1xvBXt39xY

— Racing.com (@Racing) October 26, 2024

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But Via Sistina won’t lack for opposition in Saturday’s Queen Elizabeth Stakes with English raider Dubai Honour protecting an unbeaten Australian Group 1 record, Ceolwulf attempting the “royal double” after winning the King Charles III Stakes last spring, plus Japan’s Rousham Park, Australian Cup winner Light Infantry Man and proven topliners like Buckaroo and possibly Pride Of Jenni, a spectacular winner of the race 12 months ago.

The Queen Elizabeth Stakes is the highlight race of Day Two of The Championships which boasts four Group 1 races including the Sydney Cup, ATC Australian Oaks and Queen of the Turf Stakes.

Bruce McAvaney, the voice of Australian sport and presenter of Channel 7’s Saturday racing coverage, said the evolution of the Queen Elizabeth Stakes since The Championships was introduced in 2014 meant the Randwick race was now a match for the Cox Plate.

“The Queen Elizabeth has a different build-up because the timing of the Cox Plate is perfect as it is between the Caulfield and Melbourne Cup and there is no football,’’ McAvaney said.

“But with the Queen Elizabeth Stakes, we’ve seen Winx and the other champions win it and now Via Sistina can really ‘crown’ this race if she wins on Saturday.

“If Via Sistina wins her seventh Group 1 for the season, and only Winx has managed that feat, then she is in the conversation to become a Hall of Famer.

“With the field we are going to get for the Queen Elizabeth Stakes, it bookends the season after the Cox Plate in spring.’’

THE FAIRYTALE IS COMPLETE - @winx_horse has done what so many other champions could not, and gone out a winner. Sit back and marvel at her last ever start, winning today’s Queen Elizabeth Stakes @royalrandwick#GoWinx. pic.twitter.com/4OcT5rN650

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 13, 2019

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Respected form expert Gary Crispe said the quality of Saturday’s Queen Elizabeth would make for “a epic race”.

“Via Sistina has been winning her races well but she hasn’t gone to her best Timeform rating this autumn yet,’’ Crispe said.

“She is running about the low 120-mark which suggests to me she has a big peak run in the ‘locker’.

“Chris Waller has a remarkable ability to have them peak on the day and if Via Sistina can run similar to her Cox Plate figure then she should win.

“My reading of her ratings profile is she ready to put in a 125 or 126 performance which will blow them away.’’

Crispe acknowledged Dubai Honour’s unbeaten Australian record but felt Via Sistina had superior acceleration.

“I do think Ceolwulf was strong last start and is coming right at the right time,’’ he said. “When he is at his best, he can be devastating with his turn of foot.’’

A huge win to Ceolwulf in the G2 Neville Sellwood Stakes - what a finish!! 🥵@SchofieldChad | @PrideRacing | @aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/usXVOly5eE

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 1, 2025

English maestro William Haggas has orchestrated the defeats of local champs Verry Elleegant (twice) and Anamoe in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes in recent years.

The Haggas-trained Addeybb beat Verry Elleegant in successive Queen Elizabeth Stakes in 2020 and 2021, then Dubai Honour was too good for Anamoe in 2023.

Haggas said there were similarities between Waller’s mares, Verry Elleegant and Via Sistina, but he was guarded when pressed about Dubai Honour’s chances on Saturday.

It's a matter of honour! 👏@WilliamHaggas and @TomMarquand do it again with Dubai Honour who pops another Australian G1 on his shelf with a win in the Tancred Stakes!@aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/QcLkKmaUdL

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 1, 2025

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“Via Sistina’s profile is pretty strong,’’ Haggas said.

“She won well the other day (Ranvet Stakes) and before that she won in a bunched finish (Verry Elleegant Stakes). She just got there but was strongest at the end.

“She’s so reliable, she doesn’t win by far but she doesn’t need to. She will be dangerous.’’

Dubai Honour has to come back from 2400m of his last start Tancred win to take on Via Sistina at the mare’s optimum race distance of 2000m.

“We don’t have any other choice,’’ Haggas said. “It’s the only race for him now but I’m confident he will be better for the run (in the Tancred Stakes).’’

Ceolwulf emerged as racing’s rising star when he won successive Group 1 races, the Epsom Handicap and King Charles III Stakes, last spring.

But Ceolwulf took four starts to break through this autumn but his tough win in the Neville Sellwood Stakes (2000m) last start indicated the four-year-old was coming right just in time for the Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

Trainer Joe Pride said Ceolwulf weighed 522kg before the Neville Sellwood Stakes and he wanted to take about 10kg off the gelding before Saturday’s big race.

Epsom winner Ceolwulf with a huge run wins the G1 King Charles III Stakes in front of a record crowd at Randwick!@PrideRacing | @SchofieldChad@aus_turf_club | @WorldPoolpic.twitter.com/28oRVnurKS

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) October 19, 2024

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“To lose 10kg is not a big amount when you are talking about a 500kg horse,’’ Pride said.

“With last Tuesday’s race and a couple of strong track gallops, that weight will come off him easily.’’

Pride said Ceolwulf’s preparation was now back on track after a minor setback earlier in the autumn.

“He missed the run in the Verry Elleegant Stakes and it meant we were behind where we wanted to be.

“So, I had to sort of fast-track him to 2000m on a heavy track in the Neville Sellwood Stakes the other day.

“We rode him that day to take bad luck out of the equation and he was able to win.

“But I’ve got no doubt he likes to be ridden more quietly. He’s not a backmarker but his preferred pattern is off the speed.

“I just feel like the races he has had will have him in peak condition for Saturday.’’

Pride agreed with McAvaney’s assertion the Queen Elizabeth Stakes had become one of the best races of the season.

“They have thrown some money at it and made it a great race over 2000m at weight-for-age,’’ the trainer said.