Decision still to be made on Cup favourite Via Sistina

Trainer Chris Waller says Cox Plate winner Via Sistina is no certainty to race in the Melbourne Cup. (James Ross/AAP PHOTOS)

Melbourne Cup favourite Via Sistina is still no certainty to start, with trainer Chris Waller saying a decision is yet to be made following her stunning Cox Plate victory.

Via Sistina became the world's top-ranked horse on the back of her eight-lengths win in course record time last Saturday at Moonee Valley.

While Waller was track-side at Flemington on Tuesday to watch his spring carnival charges go through their paces, Via Sistina was spending some recovery time at a farm.

The Kiwi mentor, who trained legendary mare Winx, said the connections of Via Sistina were still weighing up whether she would saddle up for the epic 3200m race on November 5.

Chris Waller is yet to decide whether Melbourne Cup favourite Via Sistina will race next Tuesday.

Bought by Yulong Investments for $5.5 million in December last year, Via Sistina smashed Winx's race record in the 2040m Group 1 feature.

"It's only a couple of days after the race (Cox Plate) so it's a bit early for a decision, so we need a few more days, it will be later in the week," said Waller, who won the 2021 Melbourne Cup with Verry Elleegant.

"We're still waiting to see how she comes through the run. It was an amazing win.

"It's been great to see that she's been rated the highest-rated horse in the world, which really did show how good the win was, so we're still enjoying the celebrations of that victory.

"Most importantly just seeing how she is as a horse, in terms of going to that career-best high and what it takes out of her - she seems fine, but you never really know until a few more days, so we're just trying to preserve her to ensure that wasn't just a one-off.

"My job is to get her to win not just one race but many races, and to advise the people that own the horse what's in her best interest."

Chris Waller and jockey James McDonald.
Trainer Chris Waller and jockey James McDonald celebrate their Cox Plate success.

Jockey Damien Lane, who will ride another Waller-trained Cup mount Kovalica, finished second in the Cox Plate aboard Prognosis and described Vis Sistina as a "freak".

"He (Prognosis) was great and we couldn't have been happier with how he ran," Lane said.

"We thought we executed the plan well, but we were beaten by a freak on the day.

"Via Sistina was incredible ... I wanted to run the quickest 2000m I could and achieved that and when she came past me it was a shock."

The Group 1 Champions Stakes at Flemington on November 9 is another option for Via Sistina, or she could target the $8 million Hong Kong Cup (2000m) in December.

While the racing world waits on that call, European star Jan Brueghel has been ruled out on veterinary advice following a CT scan.

Irish trainer Aidan O'Brien's stallion was the Cup favourite before Via Sistina's barn-storming Cox Plate run.

A Racing Victoria statement didn't specify an issue, but said the Irish four-year-old was "at heightened risk of injury".

Meanwhile, racing queen Gai Waterhouse insists her Cup chance will live up to his name - Just Fine - after finishing dead last in Friday's Moonee Valley Gold Cup.

Eliyass and Just Fine.
Just Fine (right) gallops during trackwork at Flemington in the lead-up to the Melbourne Cup.

"He's a quirky horse," Waterhouse said from Flemington.

"We went to the Gold Cup thinking he'd run very well, hoping we wouldn't get the (weight) penalty and we certainly didn't, so we come in with 53kg on a track he's been successful on.

"He's been set for the Cup and it's happened before, horses have run poorly on different tracks and races and he's fine, he's just fine.

"His bloods are well, he's eating well, so why shouldn't he run."

More than 30 horses remain on the Melbourne Cup list of acceptances, with the final field to be confirmed after Saturday's meeting at Flemington.

License this article

What is AAPNews?

For the first time, Australian Associated Press is delivering news straight to the consumer.

No ads. No spin. News straight-up.

Not only do you get to enjoy high-quality news delivered straight to your desktop or device, you do so in the knowledge you are supporting media diversity in Australia.

AAP Is Australia’s only independent newswire service, free from political and commercial influence, producing fact-based public interest journalism across a range of topics including politics, courts, sport, finance and entertainment.

What is AAPNews?
The Morning Wire

Wake up to AAPNews’ morning news bulletin delivered straight to your inbox or mobile device, bringing you up to speed with all that has happened overnight at home and abroad, as well as setting you up what the day has in store.

AAPNews Morning Wire
AAPNews Breaking News
Breaking News

Be the first to know when major breaking news happens.


Notifications will be sent to your device whenever a big story breaks, ensuring you are never in the dark when the talking points happen.

Focused Content

Enjoy the best of AAP’s specialised Topics in Focus. AAP has reporters dedicated to bringing you hard news and feature content across a range of specialised topics including Environment, Agriculture, Future Economies, Arts and Refugee Issues.

AAPNews Focussed Content
Subscription Plans

Choose the plan that best fits your needs. AAPNews offers two basic subscriptions, all billed monthly.

Once you sign up, you will have seven days to test out the service before being billed.

AAPNews Full Access Plan
Full Access
AU$10
  • Enjoy all that AAPNews has to offer
  • Access to breaking news notifications and bulletins
  • Includes access to all AAPNews’ specialised topics
Join Now
AAPNews Student Access Plan
Student Access
AU$5
  • Gain access via a verified student email account
  • Enjoy all the benefits of the ‘Full Access’ plan at a reduced rate
  • Subscription renews each month
Join Now
AAPNews Annual Access Plan
Annual Access
AU$99
  • All the benefits of the 'Full Access' subscription at a discounted rate
  • Subscription automatically renews after 12 months
Join Now

AAPNews also offers enterprise deals for businesses so you can provide an AAPNews account for your team, organisation or customers. Click here to contact AAP to sign-up your business today.

SEVEN DAYS FREE
Download the app
Download AAPNews on the App StoreDownload AAPNews on the Google Play Store