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Ad Via Sistina during a recovery session at Altona Beach. Photo by Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images

Via Sistina heading to Flemington for TAB Champions Stakes Day

30 October 2024 Written by Racing & Sports

TAB Champions Stakes Day at Flemington is likely to be the next time we see Via Sistina following her breathtaking Cox Plate victory.

A roundtable discussion between trainer Chris Waller, Yulong's General Manager Vix Cox along with Yulong principal Yuesheng Zhang and his daughter decided to prepare for the Group 1 TAB Champions Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on the final day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival

Cox said the Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on Tuesday had not been in the team's thoughts with Via Sistina's Spring campaign finishing at Flemington's grand finale.

"The Melbourne Cup was never really on the radar and albeit she absolutely bolted in the Cox Plate and looked super impressive, but the Melbourne Cup, (it was) an afterthought, (and) probably doesn't really add up. 

"We know how afterthoughts can work out and generally not that well, so hopefully we will be taking aim at the TAB Champions Stakes next week." 

Cox said Via Sistina was due to make her way back to Waller's Flemington stable to prepare for the TAB Champions Stakes having spent time at Mount Macedon following the Cox Plate.  

While Via Sistina won't be seen until TAB Champions Day, Yulong will have a strong hand in one of the feature Group 1 races on the opening day of Cup week. 

Growing Empire and First Settler will chase Group 1 honours in the Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m), regarded as one of Australia's leading stallion making races. 

Cox confirmed the Ciaron Maher-trained Growing Empire would take his place after finishing third to Bella Nipotina in the Group 1 The Everest (1200m) at Randwick on October 19. 

"Ciaron and his team are adamant the horse is flying, and I have no reason to query that at all," Cox said. 

"The were very excited to run, very keen to run and hopefully he runs to his best and it would be wonderful if he is challenging in the last 100 (metres) in the Coolmore." 

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