Champion sire Fastnet Rock had a profound effect on Golden Slipper day at Rosehill siring the dams of two Group I winners as well as first and third home in the $1million Group I ATC Ranvet Stakes (2000m) with victory going to highly rated Irish bred import Via Sistina (6m Fastnet Rock x Nigh, by Galileo) followed by Buckaroo (5h Fastnet Rock x Roheryn, by Galileo) in third place.
A 2.7million guinea purchase from the Tattersalls December Mares Sale last year for Yulong, Via Sistina won the Group I Pretty Polly Stakes last year at the Curragh and was placed in three subsequent Group I races. She is now trained by Chris Waller.
Ridden by James McDonald, she was sent out favourite and settled at the rear before rounding up her rivals to win by more than a length.
“She’s got a big motor and dare I say it, I think she’ll improve off that,” said James McDonald.
Via Sistina is all class and is now favourite for the $5million Group I ATC Queen Elizabeth Stakes on April 13
“I’m just a small cog in a wheel that’s all I am,” said Chris Waller.
“She’s a very good horse that has been well trained in her career and is lightly raced and was smartly purchased by Yulong.
“She’s been prepared in England by James Ferguson and her previous trainer George Boughey has given us insight as well so there has been a lot of people involved.”
Via Sistina has an interesting back story and 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.
Via Sistina has the overall record of six wins and five placings from 14 starts and is the best of four winners from Nigh, an unraced half-sister by Galileo to dual Group I winning sprinter Kingsgate Native.
Fastnet Rock is now leading the Australian Broodmare Sires List by a comfortable margin having sired the dams of Group I ATC Golden Slipper winner Lady of Camelot and Group I ATC George Ryder Stakes winner Veight.
– Coolmore Australia
