G1 Winning Fastnet Rock Mare for Tattersalls December Mares

Media Release - Tuesday October 10

The impressive Group 1 Pretty Polly Stakes winner VIA SISTINA is to be offered at the forthcoming Tattersalls December Mares Sale which will take place from December 4th - 7th. Trained by George Boughey for Becky Hillen, the five-year-old mare joins a stellar line up in the second edition of the Sceptre Sessions, which will be held on Monday 4th and Tuesday 5th December.

Via Sistina is a G1 winner by champion Australian sire Fastnet Rock.

The hugely progressive mare routed a high-class field in the Group 2 Dahlia Stakes over nine furlongs on her seasonal debut in May, with subsequent Group 1 Nassau Stakes winner AL HUSN six lengths behind in second, before her brilliant two length victory in the Group 1 Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh in July.

Advertisement

VIA SISTINA was subsequently third to NASHWA in the Group 1 Tattersalls Falmouth Stakes  before another top class performance when beaten just a nose into second in the Group 1 Prix Jean Romanet. She is set to have a final outing before the Tattersalls December Sale in either the Group 1 Champion Stakes or the Group 1 British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes on Champions Day. 

VIA SISTINA is by the excellent broodmare sire FASTNET ROCK out of a GALILEO half-sister to Gr.1 winning sprinter KINGSGATE NATIVE, from the family of 1000 Guineas winner LAS MENINAS. She will consigned to the Tattersalls December Sale by Grove Stud where she will be offered as both a racing and breeding prospect. 

Trainer George Boughey commented; 

“Via Sistina has been a star for us, very easy to train and an ultra consistent mare who has shown to be very versatile. She won the Group 1 Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh on good ground and was outstanding prior to that in the Group 2 Dahlia Stakes.”

Tattersalls Chairman Edmond Mahony commented;  

“Via Sistina is another high class Group 1 winning filly coming to the Tattersalls December Mares Sale and anyone who saw her emphatic victories in the Pretty Polly Stakes and Dahlia Stakes could not fail to have been impressed. Her performances this season have marked her out as a racemare of the highest calibre and she is another wonderful addition to the Sceptre Sessions, which will showcase some outstanding fillies and mares at this year’s December Mares Sale.” 

Advertisment
More Reading...
Another G1 Winner for Snitzel?
Well-bred filly Love Poem will take on some of the best of her generation for the second time in a week when she lines up in Saturday’s Gr.1 Barneswood Farm 52nd New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton.
Invincible Mare Impresses at Moonee Valley
A change of environment and the benefit of maturity have worked wonders for talented I Am Invincible mare Fickle, who bolted in at Moonee Valley on Friday night to win by nearly five lengths with Craig Williams in the saddle.
Million Dollar Snitzel Colt Cash Makes Winning Debut
Expensive Snitzel colt Cash made the best possible start to his career in the Hygain Tracktorque Maiden Plate (1200m) at Moonee Valley on Friday night.
Sires With Winners - Friday November 15
Here is the full list of 32 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Best On Breeding
Winning a Group 1 after just two starts is a monumental feat, but there's a filly in Saturday's Schweppes One Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield who is ready to take on the challenge.
Star Fillies Clash in G1 NZ 1000 Guineas
Riccarton racegoers could be in for a treat on Saturday when they get to witness one of the burgeoning rivalries in New Zealand racing come to a head.
Kitty Flash Fancied by Forsman
Andrew Forsman has won every Group One race for three-year-olds in New Zealand apart from the Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m), and the Cambridge trainer hopes Kitty Flash might be the filly to give him his missing piece at Riccarton on Saturday.
Too Darn Hot Running Hot at Canterbury
A competitive 1350m maiden for 3-year-olds to start the Canterbury night series with an impressive winner in Scorching Legend, who came with a barnstorming finish from last.
Siblings To Stakes Winners at Magic Millions 2025
There are 211 siblings to stakes winners catalogued for the Magic Millions Gold Coast in 2025, including 26 siblings to Group One winners, so here's the list with links to their pages.
Karaka Millions Opportunities Aplenty in Ready to Run Sale Catalogue
The quality on offer in the 404-lot strong catalogue of NZB’s 2024 Ready to Run Sale due to kick off next week, is further boosted by the eligibility of 28 Karaka Millions nominated lots on offer.