Via Sistina takes the Ranvet
Following the same template used in recent years by leading British-based trainer William Haggas, Chris Waller was delivered immediate success as Via Sistina (6 m Fastnet Rock – Nigh by Galileo) made the perfect start to her career in Australia with a victory in Saturday’s Ranvet Stakes (Gr 1, 2000m).
In 2020, Haggis sent over Addeybb (Pivotal) to land the Ranvet fresh off the plane, a performance he followed up with a triumph in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Gr 1, 2000m) a fortnight later, while trainer repeated that trick 12 months ago with Dubai Honour (Pride Of Dubai).
Waller made it clear in the run up to Saturday’s Ranvet, he would be drawing inspiration from Haggas in his race planning with the Yulong-owned Via Sistina and he completed half of that ambitious mission with her triumph at Rosehill on Saturday.
Sent off the $2.30 favourite for Saturday’s six-runner Group 1 event under James McDonald, the six-year-old mare was confidently ridden in last before effortlessly sweeping down the outside in the home straight to score a cosy 1.2 length success over Place Du Carrousel (Lope De Vega), who also runs in the Yulong colours.
“Follow what William Haggas does and you don’t go far wrong,” Waller said. “Yulong are great, they listen, they know their horses and they’re gathering momentum very quickly.
“She is a different level to what we normally see in Australia. It’s a privilege to train her.”
Via Sistina, winner of the Pretty Polly Stakes (Gr 1, 1m 2f) and runner-up in both the Prix Jean Romanet (Gr 1, 2000m) and Champions Stakes (Gr 1, 1m 2f) when trained in England by George Boughey, was purchased from the Grove Stud draft for 2.7 million guineas at the 2023 Tattersalls December Mares Sale.
Via Sistina’s performance didn’t surprise her new trainer as not only did the mare bring Group 1 European formlines, he had been pleased with the way she had settled into life in Sydney.
“She had done a lot of work before coming out here,” Waller said. “We haven’t done anything with her, just kept her ticking over. For a mare, she’s coming into the European spring and that is how she thinks so her coat is coming through beautifully.”
The race produced an ideal result for Yulong, with their mares finishing first and second, much to the delight of Yulong general manager Vin Cox.
“For her to win first-up at Group 1 and for the other mare to run second is outstanding,” Cox said. “Place Du Carrousel is probably looking for a bit further so what she has done is just ideal.”