Via Sistina brings up Waller, J-Mac half century with Champions Stakes romp

Via Sistina notched a 12th Group 1 and gave James MCDoanld and Chris Waller their 50th in combination with an effortless win in a Champions Stakes run in heavy conditions at Flemington.

Via Sistina re-affirmed her superstar credentials, winning her 12th Group 1 in the Champions Stakes, on a final day at Flemington which saw thrilling Champions wins for Giga Kick in the Sprint and Ceolwulf in the Mile.

Chris Waller’s star mare lived up to her odds-on price, with James McDonald bringing her home with her customary powerful finish, winning the Champions Stakes by a widening two and three-quarter length margin on the line.

As opposed to her hard-fought second Cox Plate win, this victory came with comfort, with Zambardo finishing second, ahead of Tom Kitten in third.

It is her 11th Group 1 win in Australia, moving her to equal sixth on the all-time list, while she now has 12 Group 1 wins overall.

It was also a 50th Group 1 in combination for McDonald and trainer Chris Waller.

“It is an honour to be working with him. It makes my job and possibly his job that little bit easier. There’s no pressure, no pre-race stress, and I didn’t even give any instructions,” Waller said.

”He said ‘I’ll go and ride her like Hughie used to ride Winx’, best horse in the race, give her some clean air, and I said, ‘that sounds good to me’.

“I don’t see it as a milestone. He’s great to work with. That’s a privilege in itself. The relationship works well. There’s less pressure when you trust each other. I’d go to war with him and he’d do the same for me.”

Upon winning his second straight Champions Stakes on Via Sistina, McDonald gave an insight into what it as like to ride such a champion.

“She’s an absolute pleasure to ride. How good are they? They just prep them up beautifully, Waller and his team. She was cool today, real cool,” he said.

“She started her prep in amazing fashion. Certain things didn’t go her way but when you’re riding a dual Cox Plate winner on Champions Day and the last group one of a fantastic four days, it is very special.”

“It felt like every man and his dog was on her today but she duly obliged and the race couldn’t have panned out any better for us, to be fair.”

Earlier, Joseph Pride’s Ceolwulf triumphed in an epic battle down the Flemington straight with Pericles, to edge his rival in a photo finish in the Champions Mile.

Ceolwulf, having his first-ever run outside of Sydney, looked vanquished when Pericles swooped past to him to lead by nearly a length with 200 metres to go.

But Chad Schofield lifted the five-year-old Tavistock gelding, as Pericles veered in on top of him, and Ceolwulf got his nose in front right on the line.

“That was fantastic, really special. I love winning races here. This horse has really turned it on in the second half of the preparation and has strung a couple of very good wins together,” Pride said.

“I thought at the 200 that he wasn’t enjoying it he was wandering around a little bit but as soon as Pericles challenged him he rallied and they it was a really good go to the line with two good horses.”

“He’s an amazing horse. I’m just so proud of him. I’ve thought for a long time he’s the best horse I’ve trained and with his last two wins, he’s certainly cemented his spot there.”

It was an eighth Group 1 for Schofield, four of which have come aboard Ceolwulf.

“If you had have asked me how I was feeling at the 400, I’d have said it was race over. He ambled up and came into it but in the Flemington straight he put his head up and baulked. That allowed Pericles to get a margin on me, and when he saw him he went again,” he said.

“He’s a horse that keeps getting better each preparation. He was enormous the other day in the King Charles and today we saw another quality of his, his fighting spirit. It was huge.”

“It’s great to come down and be a part of the carnival here. I’m so proud of the horse and he’s a horse who I believe is incredibly good. It was a race full of quality and a proper race.”

Stefi Magnetica finished in third, whole Treasurethe Moment, who tracked the early leader Pride Of Jenni and speared clear at the top of the straight, was fourth. Neither Pride Of Jenni (eighth) or Mr Brightside (fifth) brought their best on the wet track.

The make-up of the Champions Sprint changed dramatically just before the start when three-year-old Tentyris was scratched at the barrier after getting his leg up over an adjoining stall.

The race would end up being fought out between Giga Kick and Magic Time, who both came from off the pace, to fight out the finish.

Giga Kick’s best qualities kicked in late as he fought his way to a narrow victory giving Mark Zahra his eighth win of the week.

Joliestar finished third, another 1.25 lengths away in third.

“He’s a champ this horse and I love him. It’s actually my first Melbourne Group 1 which is really special as well. It was a great ride and what a ding-dong battle it was,” trainer Clayton Douglas said.

“He’s done so much for my career and he’s taken me everywhere with Group 1 wins in Sydney and Queensland. It’s his third go at this race. He hasn’t had a lot of luck in other years and it worked out perfect today.”

To give an example of how heavy the track was, the time was 1:13.3, nearly five seconds, or 30 lengths slower than the time Tentyris ran to win the Coolmore Stud Stakes seven days earlier.