Australian G1 Goals for 2.7million Guinea Fastnet Rock Mare

Tara Madgwick - Tuesday March 12

Yulong had no joy in Australia with their expensive acquisition Alcohol Free, but may have a better experience with Fastnet Rock’s Group I winning daughter Via Sistina (IRE), who they purchased for 2.7million guineas at the Tattersalls December Mares Sale last year.

Via Sistina is no stranger to the spotlight! - image Tattersalls December Mares Sale

She is due to get out of her quarantine period at Canterbury this weekend and will join the team at Chris Waller Racing at Rosehill.

A late bloomer, Via Sistina struck career best form last year as a five year-old when trained by George Boughey and won the Group I Curragh Pretty Polly Stakes in Ireland before placing in three more consecutive Group I races with her last run in October a gallant second to gun three year old colt King of Steel in the Group I British Champions Stakes at 2000m.

Advertisement

She is entered for the Group I ATC Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) with the Group I ATC Ranvet Stakes (2000m) as her lead up, a path followed successfully by other high profile imports Adeybb (GB) and Dubai Honour (IRE).

"She is likely to have one more piece of work here (Canterbury) and then move across then go straight into the Ranvet Stakes next Saturday," Waller's assistant trainer Charlie Duckworth told Racenet.

"It's not an easy path to plot but Addeybb, both times he came down to duel with Verry Elleegant, he ran in the Champions Stakes at Ascot.

"It's same race she ran second in last start so it's certainly the right form out of Europe to come down here with. She is right in it.

"Her form is slightly better on a wet track but you never know what they Sydney autumn can throw us."

Click to see her page at the sale.

Via Sistina is a fascinating horse as she is the original ugly duckling that grew into a swan.

Her original owners Stephen and Becky Hillen purchased her as a yearling for 5,000 guineas at the Tattersalls December Sale and they were over the moon when she sold at the Tattersalls December Mares Sale last year fetching 2.7million guineas to be the second highest priced mare at the sale.

“It has been a dream! I thought that she'd bring in 2,000,000 guineas plus, that cross is sensational,” Stephen Hillen said at the time.

"She was a Group 1 winner, but arguably she ran great in the Champion Stakes and she was still improving all the time. It is nice now to see her almost certainly be retired sound and go to stud. I was fine watching her sell - I thought that if we don't get what we want for her, we can still race her so it was a celebration either way."

You can bet the Hillen’s will be watching closely when Via Sistina steps out on Saturday week.

Fastnet Rock mares are proving a rising force in world breeding, so win, lose or draw, Yulong have added a very special mare to their collection.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Cox Plate Record Breaker Via Sistina Worth Every Penny and More
Yulong have plundered elite horses sales all over the world in recent years and one of their big ticket items was Group I winning mare Via Sistina (IRE) and the daughter of Fastnet Rock raced into the record books at Moonee Valley on Saturday when scoring a mind blowing victory in the $5million Group I MVRC Cox Plate (2040m).
Best On Breeding
On Saturday, the $1,000,000 Winx Stakes (1400m) at Randwick kick-starts the 74 Group 1 races in Australia this season, with Chris Waller sending out half of the 12-runner field.
One to Watch – Hawkesbury
Castelvecchio has gone from nowhere to somewhere during the course of this spring with three stakes-winners putting his name in lights and he had a promising three year-old colt salute at Hawkesbury on Thursday that has now won two of three starts.
Expensive Fastnet Rock Import Wins G1 Ranvet
Yulong purchased two of the most expensive mares in the world last year paying 2.7million guineas for Via Sistina at the Tattersalls Mares Sale and €4,025,000 for Place du Carrousel at Arqana and they ran the quinella in the $1million ATC Ranvet Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill on Saturday at their first appearance in Australia.
Churchill Colt Pulls Off Stunning Pinhooking Result at NZB Ready To Run
Chad Ormsby has enjoyed plenty of racetrack success this year with pinhooks that he has been unable to sell at the Ready to Run Sale, but the multi-talented horseman had a very different outcome with the standout member of his 2024 Riverrock Farm draft at Karaka on Thursday.
Arkansaw Kid Brother Sells for $520,000
A well-related son of Harry Angel provided a late highlight in the final hour of the 2024 NZB Ready to Run Sale at Karaka on Thursday when he was knocked down to a $520,000 bid from bloodstock agent Morgan Carter.
Million-dollar Hour for Leung at NZB Ready To Run
Hong Kong bloodstock agent Willie Leung had a big hour at Karaka early on Thursday afternoon, spending more than $1 million to secure two well-credentialled colts at the NZB Ready to Run Sale.
Via Sistina Dominant in G1 Champions Stakes
Fresh from a virtuoso performance to win the Group I MVRC Cox Plate in track record time, Yulong owned Fastnet Rock mare Via Sistina (IRE) turned on the afterburners again at Flemington on Saturday to win the Group I VRC Champions Stakes (2000m) by nearly three lengths.
Waller Glamour Mares G1 Winx Stakes Trifecta
Yulong paid 2.7million guineas for top class Group I winning mare Via Sistina (IRE) at the Tattersalls Mares Sale last year and she was worth every penny with the glamour daughter of Fastnet Rock leading home a thrilling trifecta for the stable in the Group I ATC Winx Stakes (1400m) at Randwick when she outpointed established stable stars Zougotcha and Fangirl.
Ka Ying Rising connection draws Hayes team to Shamexpress at Karaka
With one of the world’s most exciting sprinters flying the flag for David Hayes in Hong Kong, it has been no surprise to see the trainer’s sons zeroing in on progeny of Windsor Park Stud stallion Shamexpress during the Ready to Run Sale at Karaka this week.