Post-race jockey reports from the 2024 Cox Plate

This is what the jockeys had to say after the running of the Cox Plate at The Valley on Saturday.

Via Sistina trounces her opponents in the Cox Plate on Saturday. Photo: Reg Ryan/Getty Images.

Via Sistina proved herself Australia’s premier middle distance weight-for-age galloper when charging to a dominant win in the $5 million Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) at The Valley on Saturday.

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

The victory was Via Sistina’s nine from 19 starts and took her earnings to more than $6.6 million.

Via Sistina is a seven-year-old mare by Fastnet Rock, she was ridden by James McDonald and is trained by Chris Waller.

This is what the riders thought of their mount’s performance in the Cox Plate.

1st - VIA SISTINA (James McDonald) I was pretty happy to see Prognosis up there, to be fair, and Broadsiding. Two horses that I thought would maybe be back with me, jostling for the same positions, and the pace was nice. I had such a smooth run the first half and I thought, I just wheel out, keep it smooth, blend in and she loved it. She won like Winx, she blended and gee, it’s just a phenomenal performance.

2nd - PROGNOSIS (Damian Lane) He was very honest, you couldn’t have asked much more. He stepped away well and travelled great throughout the run. I was confident coming down the side I was going to be a winning chance but Via Sistina was just in another class today. She was way too good today.

3rd - BROADSIDING (Jamie Kah) He really surprised me at how much of a big baby he is still. He spat the bit out at the 800 and Docklands bumped him out the way and I thought we were done but he picked up and found the line fantastic. I’d say he’s an Anamoe - next year he’ll win the Cox Plate - he’s still a year away.

4th - MR BRIGHTSIDE (Craig Williams) I was proud of Brightside, his run was good, but when she (Via Sistina) came I couldn’t go with her and then, to his credit, I loved how he stayed on in the straight and just missed out on running third. Credit to Mr Brightside.

5th - DOCKLANDS (Blake Shinn) The horse ran very well. We had a good run from barrier one, got on the back of the winner down the side and presented to challenge the placegetters - he got a little tired late - but I thought he ran really well.

6th - KOVALICA (Mark Zahra) He ran well. He’s a horse that doesn’t like being amongst the field, he went from travelling to stopping, but finished off alright. He ran above his price, he did well.

7th - ROYAL PATRONAGE (Michael Dee) He actually stuck on and tried very hard. I didn’t expect to be in front going past the post the first time and he actually wanted to hang out quite badly - I was on one rein for quite some time. He tried hard, we were beaten a long way, but he acquitted himself pretty well.

8th - PRIDE OF JENNI (Declan Bates) Just raced a bit flat. I knew a long way out she wasn’t taking me away from them, I was having to just ask her to do it a bit. She seemed to pull up well and hopefully she does but a bit flat today.

9th - EVAPORATE (Karis Teetan) He got into a beautiful rhythm down the back straight and then once the race developed he couldn’t handle the high pressure.

Originally published as Post-race jockey reports from the 2024 Cox Plate