Via Sistina, the winner of seven Group 1 races during the 2024/2025 season, headlines the list of nominees for the Australian Racehorse of the Year.
The imported mare, trained by Chris Waller for Yulong’s Zhang Yuesheng, dominated her rivals in two states with an emphatic Cox Plate victory, a crowning moment.
Via Sistina also claimed the Winx Stakes, Turnbull Stakes, Champions Stakes, Vetry Elleegant Stakes, Ranvet Stakes and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at the highest level.
Also in the running for Australian racing’s top gong will be Antino, Bella Nipotina, Treasurethe Moment and Broadsiding.
The Australian Racehorse of the Year Awards acknowledge performances on domestic racecourses, as well as international performances by locally trained horses.
This year’s awards will be held in Brisbane on August 31 and will be hosted alongside the Sportsbet Australian Racing Hall of Fame ceremony, which will see both Winx and Black Caviar elevated to ‘Legend’ status.
Hydrogen (horse), Mahogany (horse), Peter Moody (trainer), Zac Purton (jockey), and John Tapp (associate) have already been unveiled as this year’s Hall of Fame inductees.
Contenders for the champion two-year-old category include the Queensland-trained JJ Atkins winner Cool Archie as well as Nepotism, Vinrock and Golden Slipper winner Marhoona.
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In the champion three-year-old colt and gelding category, Broadsiding is up against gun sprinter Private Harry whose perfect five-start career includes the Group 1 Galaxy, with Randwick Guineas winner Linebacker, and Switzerland, whose stunning victory in the Coolmore Stud Stakes rounds out an outstanding lineup.
The three-year-old filly category will be hotly contested and features two three-time Group 1 winners in Lady Shenandoah and Treasurethe Moment as well as ATC Australian Derby heroine Aeliana and the unbeaten Autumn Glow.
