Via Sistina wins the Cox Plate as jockey James McDonald claims his 100th Group 1 victory
Updated . First published at
Via Sistina has dominated the field to win the Cox Plate, delivering jockey James McDonald his 100th Group 1 win.
The seven-year-old mare took the lead on the bend and stormed home to win by well over five lengths in Melbourne on Saturday.
"Put it on top of the list, we've seen some extraordinary things at the Cox Plate ... it's the stuff of legends, (trainer) Chris Waller's a genius and this mare's a champion," Bruce McAvaney said on 7.
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"This is Winx like," he added later.
Via Sistina wins the Cox Plate by eight lengths. Getty
Post-race, Waller struggled to hold back tears and admitted he didn't believe his horse would win by that margin.
"I didn't think about it," he said.
Meanwhile, McDonald agreed the mare "won like Winx" and described it as a "phenomenal performance".
James McDonald soaks in the feeling of winning the Cox Plate. Getty
The jockey sealed his third Cox Plate with the win, having previously been successful on Anamoe and Romantic Warrior.
McDonald admitted he appreciates this win a little more due to his century milestone.
"I think so, I think there was more pressure because obviously the other two were well fancied but they're very easy horses to ride," he said.
"This one, she's not easy, things needed to go our way and probably the momentum of this 100 has been quite heavy."
James McDonald raises his arms after his win. Getty
The seven-year-old mare came into the race at $5.50 for the win, with Prognosis the favourite and Pride of Jenni next in the market.
Prognosis went on to finish second while Broadsiding was third.
