The Queen Returns: By way of Sistina Wins Thrilling Winx Stakes
The reigning queen of the Australian turf, By way of Sistina, has made a triumphant return, securing her tenth Group 1 victory in a shocking first-up efficiency within the 2025 Winx Stakes. The soon-to-be-crowned Australian Racehorse of the Yr confirmed all her class on a Heavy (10) monitor at Royal Randwick to defend her title in an exhilarating end.
2025 Winx Stakes winner By way of Sistina celebrated her tenth profession Group 1 success. Picture: Bradley Photographs.
Regardless of easing out to $2.80 because of the heavy situations, By way of Sistina proved too robust for a high quality discipline, holding off her courageous stablemate Aeliana, with Sydney Cup winner Arapaho a improbable third. The win marks the primary time a horse has gone back-to-back within the race for the reason that legendary Winx, a becoming achievement given the race’s identify.
Coach Chris Waller admitted to having some pre-race doubts. “I did. Only for their security. However full credit score to the group,” Waller mentioned. “My doubt was the place are we after right now for 2 weeks’ time/4 weeks’ time. I simply need the curators Michael Wooden, who does a improbable job, Nevesh Ramdhani, they’ve an superior group beneath them. We went and walked the monitor earlier than, and it’s protected. They’ve an amazing monitor.”
By way of Sistina’s victory additionally etched her identify into the historical past books, as she turned the primary eight-year-old mare in 80 years to win a Group 1 race. This exceptional feat, mixed along with her current Cox Plate and Queen Elizabeth Stakes victories, highlights her versatility and enduring class.
Settling second-to-last within the run, jockey James McDonald hugged the rail, whereas her stablemate Aeliana, a five-length Australian Derby winner, additionally saved floor on the within. As the sphere straightened, an ideal hole opened up for By way of Sistina, and the star mare confirmed her electrifying flip of foot to hit the entrance. The race was removed from over, nevertheless, with Aeliana rallying laborious on her inside, pushing the champion all the way in which to the publish.
“Gee the second horse was nice,” McDonald mentioned of Aeliana. “I might see the shadow, and I couldn’t assume what it could be. I used to be considering I’ve quickened up superbly and he or she gave me a hell of a fright. If I went one other furlong I might win by a neck anyway. A fantastic effort by a younger mare like that. A nice race to trip.”
By way of Sistina held on for a 0.36-length win, with the eye-catching run of Arapaho, who relished the muddy situations to complete third, including worth to the trifecta. In a luckless first-up efficiency, the well-backed Ceolwulf completed fourth, after lacking the beginning and being compelled vast.
With the win, By way of Sistina is now the highest elect for a bunch of upcoming Group 1 spring options, together with a possible next-up task within the Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington. Her fundamental aim, nevertheless, shall be a historic back-to-back victory within the Ladbrokes Cox Plate, the place her all-in value has firmed from $2.80 to $2.10 by Ladbrokes.
2025 Winx Stakes Outcomes
| End | No. | Horse | Coach | Jockey | Margin | Bar. | Weight | Penalty | Beginning Worth | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 9 | VIA SISTINA (IRE) | Chris Waller | James McDonald | 1 | 57kg | $2.80F | |||
| 2 | 12 | AELIANA (NZ) | Chris Waller | Jason Collett | 0.36L | 2 | 56.5kg | $6.50 | ||
| 3 | 4 | ARAPAHO (FR) | Bjorn Baker | Ms Rachel King | 1.83L | 4 | 59kg | $26 | ||
| 4 | 2 | CEOLWULF (NZ) | Joseph Pleasure | Chad Schofield | 2.48L | 7 | 59kg | $5.50 | ||
| 5 | 3 | GRINGOTTS (NZ) | Ciaron Maher | Tommy Berry | 2.78L | 9 | 59kg | $5.50 | ||
| 6 | 7 | WAR ETERNAL (NZ) | Bjorn Baker | Dylan Gibbons | 4.87L | 5 | 59kg | $26 | ||
| 7 | 6 | ROBUSTO | Bjorn Baker | Joshua Parr | 5.53L | 8 | 59kg | $10 | ||
| 8 | 11 | FULL COUNT FELICIA (USA) | Chris Waller | Adam Hyeronimus | 6.66L | 10 | 57kg | $51 | ||
| 9 | 8 | DIAMOND DIESEL | Adam Duggan | Andrew Adkins | 7.68L | 3 | 59kg | $101 | ||
| 10 | 5 | LINDERMANN | Chris Waller | Nash Rawiller | 7.87L | 11 | 59kg | $19 | ||
| 11 | 1 | LIGHT INFANTRY MAN (FR) | Ciaron Maher | Ethan Brown | 9.05L | 6 | 59kg | $18 | ||
Desk Credit score: Racing Australia.
This web page and the written content material inside it had been partially generated utilizing AI or automated know-how and edited and verified by our editorial group.
WHAT ARE YOU REALLY GAMBLING WITH?
At no cost and confidential assist name 1800 858 858 or go to gamblinghelponline.org.au.
