Qipco British Champions Day: Via Sistina in flying form reports George Boughey ahead of Ascot bid
Via Sistina is on course for a Qipco British Champions Day outing, with George Boughey warning his star filly has trained better than ever.
The five-year-old is yet to finish outside the top three since joining Boughey last October and has taken her form to the next level this season, emphatically winning the Dahlia Stakes on her reappearance before winning Group 1 honors at the Curragh in the Pretty Polly. Challenges.
Honorable efforts in the Falmouth Stakes and the Prix Jean Romanet followed and Boughey opted not to send his successful mare to ParisLongchamp for the Prix de l’Opéra rather than go to Ascot in optimal conditions.
The Saffron House handler is now hoping for a little help from the weather to allow Via Sistina to perform her best at the Berkshire track.
Boughey said: “The pitch has always been a big thing for her and I think she will be at her best if the pitch is slower. But it wouldn’t be surprising to see her try her luck on a normal pitch either .
“I can’t imagine it’s going to be quick. I’ve wanted to run her at Ascot for a long time and it usually happens very slowly. He doesn’t like it’s going to go very slowly, but there’s every chance the the weather could get bad and we hope.”
Via Sistina rides faultless in the Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh
“She’s training as well as ever and she’s in great shape and that’s the plan for a while.”
Via Sistina has the chance to take on the colts over her Group 1 winning distance of 10,000 yards in the Qipco Champion Stakes or get a first chance over a mile and a half if she remains among her own sex for the Qipco British Champions Fillies and mares. Challenges.
Boughey believes Via Sistina’s versatility means he could have a tough decision to make before Ascot’s season-ending finale on October 21.
He added: “We’ll just watch them both and see how we go and hopefully we’ll see her in one of them.
“I always thought she was very versatile and I think there is every chance that if she ran in the mile and a half race then she could have been favorite for a Group 1 over a mile, a mile and a quarter and a mile and a half in the same season, which I’m not sure many will have done.