Via Sistina (foaled 27 March 2018) is a twelve-time Group 1 winning Irish bred Thoroughbred racehorse who is most notable for her victories in the 2024 and 2025 W.S. Cox Plate. She was retired after winning her second Champions Stakes in her last race. After her victory in the 2024 W.S. Cox Plate, Via Sistina was awarded a Timeform rating of 132, the third highest ever given to a mare. Additionally, Via Sistina earned a Longines rating of 127, which placed her third in the 2024 World's Best Racehorse Rankings.
Background Via Sistina was sired out of Fastnet Rock, a champion racehorse whose best wins include the Lightning Stakes and the Oakleigh Plate. Fastnet Rock was a successful stallion siring 44 Group 1 winners including Avantage, Atlantic Jewel, Merchant Navy, and Fascinating Rock. Via Sistina's grandsire Danehill was also a prolific sire, as he was the leading sire in Australia nine times, the leading sire in Great Britain three times, and the leading sire in France twice.
Via Sistina originally raced in the UK under trainer Joseph Tuite before switching to George Boughey. She found early success in Britain claiming five wins in thirteen starts before being sold in the Tattersalls December Mare Sale in 2023 to Yulong Studs to train under Chris Waller. In 2024, Yulong Investments acquired Panthalassa, an international Group 1 race winner and one of the richest racehorses in the world. In addition to running a successful thoroughbred enterprise, Yulong Investments also has a division focusing on premium Wagyu beef. In 2022, Yulong Investments purchased a female Wagyu cow for A$400,000, a record high auction price.
Notable races
DateRaceTrackFieldPlacingWinner (2nd Place)Winning (Losing) MarginJockey2022 – Four-year-old season11 November 2022 G3 - Prix Fille de l'Air Toulouse 111st (Winema) lengthJamie Spencer 2023 – Five-year-old season7 May 2023 G2 - Dahlia Stakes Newmarket 91st (Al Husn) 6 lengthsJamie Spencer 1 July 2023 G1 - Pretty Polly Stakes Curragh 91st (Stay Alert) 2 lengthsJamie Spencer 2024 – Six-year-old season23 March 2024 G1 - Ranvet Stakes Rosehill 61st (Place Du Carrousel) 1.2 lengthsJames McDonald 13 April 2024G1 - Queen Eizabeth StakesRandwick 92nd Pride Of Jenni(6.54 lengths)James McDonald24 August 2024 G1 - Winx Stakes Randwick 121st (Zougotcha) 0.07 lengthsKerrin McEvoy 5 October 2024 G1 - Turnbull Stakes Flemington 161st (Buckaroo) 0.2 lengthsDamian Lane 26 October 2024 G1 - Cox Plate Moonee Valley 91st (Prognosis) 8 lengths James McDonald 9 November 2024 G1 - Champions Stakes Flemington 111st (Atishu) 2.75 lengths James McDonald2025 – Seven-year-old season 15 February 2025 G2 - Apollo StakesRandwick 83rd Fangirl (1.02 lengths)Kerrin McEvoy1 March 2025G1 - Verry Elleegant StakesRandwick 81st (Fangirl) 0.36 lengthsJames McDonald22 March 2025 G1 - Ranvet StakesRosehill 61st (Lindermann) 1.53 lengthsJames McDonald 12 April 2025G1 - Queen Eizabeth StakesRandwick 131st (Dubai Honour) 1.75 lengths James McDonald23 August 2025G1 - Winx Stakes Randwick 111st (Aeliana) 0.36 lengths James McDonald13 September 2025 G1 - Makybe Diva Stakes Flemington 63rd Mr Brightside (1.9 lengths) James McDonald4 October 2025G1 - Turnbull StakesFlemington 143rd Sir Delius (2.21 lengths) James McDonald25 October 2025G1 - Cox PlateMoonee Valley 81st (Buckaroo) 0.1 lengths James McDonald 8 November 2025 G1 - Champions Stakes Flemington 111st (Zambardo) 2.75 lengths James McDonald
Pedigree
References