Top-ranked Via Sistina excluded from Melbourne Cup – Associated Press Australia

Champion jockey James MacDonald is left out of the Melbourne Cup after dominant Cox Plate winner Via Sistina was ruled out of the race that stops the nation.

The Chris Waller-trained mare set a record by winning at Moonee Valley last Saturday in a performance that saw her become the No. 1 horse in the world.

Via Sistina entered immediate favoritism for the Melbourne Cup, her odds dropping to $5 despite not being confirmed in the starting line-up at Flemington on the first Tuesday in November.

Connections took the time to evaluate their options and ruled the seven-year-old out of Cup contention on Wednesday.

The owner of Yulong Investments announced this on social networks on Wednesday morning.

“Via Sistina is officially the number one racehorse in the world! The Cox Plate has always been her main goal, winning it is nothing short of a dream,” Yulong said in a statement on X.

“After such a peak performance and after much consideration, it has been decided that she will not compete in the 2024 Melbourne Cup.”

Via Sistina will now target the Group 1 Champion Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on November 9.

The daughter of Fastnet Rock is the favorite for the race and McDonald is expected to qualify for the race.

A potential clash with last year’s Cox Plate winner Romantic Warrior in the Group 1 Hong Kong Cup (2000m) in December has been ruled out.

Earlier this week Waller said he and others would look at Via Sistina’s long-term prospects when they compete in the Melbourne Cup.

“She seems to be okay, but you never know for sure until a few more days go by or even until they’re over, so we’re just trying to keep her safe to make sure (the Cox Plate performance) wasn’t just a one-off.” Waller said Tuesday.

“My job as a trainer is to help her win not just one race, but many races, and to advise horse owners on what is in her best interest.”

Via Sistina was purchased by Yulong for $5.5 million last December and has now collected more than $6.7 million in career prize money.

McDonald scored his 100th Group 1 triumph in the Cox Plate at Via Sistina, winning the Australian Weight-for-Age Championship for the third year in a row following success aboard Romantic Warrior and Anamoe.

It remains to be seen whether the 32-year-old New Zealand star will opt for another trip to the Melbourne Cup.