Via Sistina shoots to Melbourne Cup favouritism after setting new standard at Cox Plate

Dominant Cox Plate winner Via Sistina has moved into an outright favorite in the Melbourne Cup despite not yet being a confirmed starter for the race that holds the nation back.

Via Sistina looks set to take on the iconic 3200m handicap at Flemington on November 5 after breaking Winx’s 2040m race record in Group 1 at Moonee Valley on Saturday.

The Chris Waller-trained seven-year-old mare jumped third favorite to win the Australasia weight-for-age championship by a record eight lengths over pre-race favorite Prognosis.

But Via Sistina’s connections – bought by Yulong Investments in December last year for $5.5 million – will “let the dust settle” before deciding whether to back her in the Melbourne Cup.

The Group 1 Champions Stakes at Flemington on November 9 is another option.

“We’re not going to rule anything out at this stage… we’re just going to enjoy the moment,” Yulong general manager Vin Cox said after the Cox Plate win.

Online betting sites opened with Via Sistina as a $51 Melbourne Cup odds, and she had a $21 fancy for the Cox Plate, but her odds were cut to $5 on Saturday night.

Raider Jan Brueghel ($7), Waller’s Caulfield Cup runner-up Buckaroo ($8) and Geelong Cup winner Onesmoothoperator ($9) are also among the market’s leading contenders.

If she starts and is successful, Via Sistina would become only the second galloper to claim the Cox Plate-Melbourne Cup double this century, after the legendary mare Makybe Diva (2005).

Three-time Melbourne Cup winner Makybe Diva is one of only five to complete the celebrated double, along with Nightmarch (1929), Phar Lap (1930), Rising Fast (1954) and Saintly (1996).

James McDonald steered Via Sistina to her stunning Cox Plate victory and was impressed with the performance.

“She won as did Winx… it was just a phenomenal performance,” McDonald told the Seven Network.

It was McDonald’s third consecutive Cox Plate win – following wins with Romantic Warrior last year and Anamoe in 2022 – and his 100th Group 1 victory.

Remarkably, Via Sistina had serious doubts about starting the race after throwing McDonald during track work four days earlier.

Via Sistina also broke the track record in her eight-length demolition job, recording a time of 2.01.07, breaking Winx’s record in 2017.

The incident forced a complete rethink of her preparation by Waller, who was not interested in taking credit for the mare’s quick recovery.

“We’ve done these things before,” the trainer told Seven.

“Forget what happened on Tuesday, she’s a good horse and (it was) my job to prove that.”

The Waller-trained Land Legend ($26) and Kovalica ($31) are also Melbourne Cup contenders.

Waller has won the Melbourne Cup once, when McDonald guided Verry Elleegant to victory in 2021.

Meanwhile, champion jockey Jamie Kah has wasted no time in finding a new ride in the Melbourne Cup after Point King was ruled out, booked with partner Ciaron Maher-trained Okita Soushi.

Point King was among the top contenders, but connections informed the stewards on Saturday that the Irish import would not be in the field if the third acceptance took place on Monday.

Kah hopes to become only the second female jockey to win the Melbourne Cup, following Michelle Payne’s breakthrough on the $101 outsider Prince Of Penzance in 2015.