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“Quite remarkable”: McAvaney backing Via Sistina to equal Winx’s record
Andrew Slevison • April 11th, 2025 5:30 pm
Via Sistina could join esteemed company if she wins the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth at Randwick on Day 2 of the Championships on Saturday.
The seven-year-old mare is gunning for her seventh Group 1 win in Australia this season which would see her equal the record set by the great Winx in 2018/19 (her final season).
Broadcasting royalty Bruce McAvaney suggests it would be a “remarkable” effort if the former international can add another elite race to her burgeoning CV.
Some big risers and sliders on the ladder after Round 3.1...
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“She’s the Horse of the Year whatever happens here,” McAvaney said on SEN’s Whateley.
“If she does win, she becomes only the second horse to win seven Group 1s in a season. Winx did that in her last season.
“There’s a half a dozen other horses like Black Caviar, Weekend Hussler, Anamoe, Kingston Town that won half a dozen Group 1s in the one year.
“That’s where she’s sitting at the moment. There are so any comparisons and that’s the big story - Can she win a seventh Group 1 for the season and do what only one other horse has done?
“It would be quite remarkable.”
Via Sistina, who will be ridden by James McDonald, is a hot $1.85 favourite with Sportsbet for the Queen Elizabeth (2000m) which has been likened to a Cox Plate field.
The Chris Waller-trained eight-time Group 1 winner will be up against such horses as Dubai Honour, Ceolwulf, Buckaroo, Light Infantry Man, Vauban and Japanese raider Rousham Park in what shapes as a potential classic.
“She’s the red-hot favourite, I think she’ll win,” McAvaney added.
“Dubai Honour is a special horse and if he were to win then he’d the first internationally-trained horse ever to win four Group 1s in this country. So there’s a lot of history.
“It’s as good as a Cox Plate when you look at this field. In terms of quality it’s on the same level as a Cox Plate.”
Via Sistina’s Group 1 haul this season has featured the Ranvet Stakes, Verry Elleegant Stakes, Champions Stakes, Cox Plate, Turnbull Stakes and the Winx Stakes.
Her other G1 triumph in Australia is the 2024 Ranvet in March last year.
The Queen Elizabeth jumps at 3:55pm AEST at Randwick on Saturday.
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