The first day, Via Sistina appeared on an Australian racecourse, champion rider Ryan Moore gave a hint of what to expect when he walked to ride against her.
Moore was in Sydney for Golden Slipper day to ride favourite Storm Boy for Coolmore, but was having a sighter on Buckaroo, also having his first Australian start.
“He won’t get near the other one, she’s a jet,” Moore said before the Ranvet Stakes.
Buckaroo would finish third to Via Sistina that day, the first of her 11 Australian Group 1 victories and Moore was right, she was a jet.
The retirement of Via Sistina on Sunday means it’s time to reflect on her career. She barrier trialled on Thursday and Chris Waller had seen enough.
“She always gave everything,” jockey James McDonald once said about the super mare but the spark wasn’t there during the week.
There was no secret about Via Sistina when she arrived in Australia, Yulong had shelled out $5.4 million at the 2023 Tattersalls December Mares Sale.
But Waller took her to another level.
She would return more than $18 million in prizemoney after coming to Australia, winning two Cox Plates and equalling Winx’s record of seven Group 1 wins in a season.
She’s dominated for two years, won horse-of-the-year last season and is in the running for it again this year.
Moonee Valley would supply her most memorable wins, an eight-length track record-smashing win in 2024 and a courageous refusal-to-lose win from Buckaroo in the final race at the track.
Moore was right, Buckaroo never beat Via Sistina in five clashes, being photo finished in the 2024 Turnbull Stakes and in the Cox Plate.
McDonald put her in his champion class after her final victory to close Moonee Valley.
“I’m so proud of her. She deserved to be in the same breath as Sunline and those sorts of horses with two Cox Plates,” McDonald said.
“You know what? I’m just rapt that it was a proper run Cox Plate. That’s what Cox Plates are all about. Best horse shone through and she deserves all she gets.”
“I think this one is a relief as well. I love this place, I’m blessed to ride champion racehorses, blessed to be a part of a champion stable and she was trained to the minute. God, how did Hughey do it with Winx? I don’t know.”
