Races

Via Sistina Targets Historic Win in the Winx Stakes

Posted on | Posted by TABtouch

Champion mare Via Sistina is set to make her 8-year-old season debut in the $1 million Group 1 Winx Stakes (1400m) at Royal Randwick this Saturday, and she’s chasing a slice of racing history. If she wins, she’ll become the first 8-year-old mare to claim a Group 1 victory in Australia since Tranquil Star in 1945—a feat not seen in 80 years.

Tranquil Star’s legacy includes wins in the Mackinnon Stakes, 2 Cox Plates, and a Caulfield Cup. Most elite mares are retired to stud well before reaching 8, but Via Sistina is bucking the trend—thanks in part to the lucrative prizemoney of the modern era.

Via Sistina’s only blemish since arriving in Australia came on a heavy-rated track in last year’s Makybe Diva Stakes, where she was well beaten. However, trainer Chris Waller remains confident, noting her overseas wins on soft ground at Royal Ascot, Newmarket, and in France, which suggest she’s capable of handling rain-affected surfaces.

The 2025 Winx Stakes field features 12 individual Group 1 winners, so Via Sistina won’t have it easy. Among them are stablemates Gringotts and Light Infantry Man, as well as old rivals Fangirl and Mr Brightside.

Via Sistina has had 24 starts for 13 wins, and a victory on Saturday would make her only the seventh mare to win 10 or more Group 1 races in the modern era. She joins a rarefied group that includes Winx, Black Caviar, Melody Belle, Sunline, Verry Elleegant, and Imperatriz.

Whether she conquers the heavy ground or not, Via Sistina’s bid for history is one of the most compelling storylines of the season opener.




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