Damian Lane will be aboard when Via Sistina looks to get her Spring campaign back on track in this Saturday’s $750,000 Turnbull Stakes.
Champion trainer Chris Waller has turned to Melbourne’s reigning premiership jockey for the 2000-metre Group 1 with Kerrin Mcevoy and James Mcdonald, who have ridden Via Sistina at her two starts this time in, required at Randwick for Epsom Handicap Day.
The imported daughter of Fastnet Rock won the Group 1 Winx Stakes (1400m) before disappointing when unplaced as favourite in the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m), but Waller was forgiving of that performance and is confident of an improved showing.
“She was just a touch flat second-up, I think that’s all it was, plus she got a wet track,” Waller said.
“It hailed 30 minutes before the race, the track was very wet, slushy and almost slippery and she never got a chance to sprint.
“She didn’t give away ground, but she just didn’t accelerate like we know she can.”
The 2000m set-weights-and-penalties Turnbull Stakes will be Via Sistina’s final start before the $5 million Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on October 19.
Via Sistina is one of five Turnbull Stakes entries for Waller, who won five of the six editions between 2015 and 2020.
Buckaroo will be having his first start since his dominant 3-1/2-length win in the Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m) and Waller said that gelding was racing for a spot in the $5m Cox Plate (2040m).
“He’d have to win again…keep winning and you’re in the Cox Plate, simple as that,” Waller said.
“It’s going to be a good race, so you want horses in good form.”
Joao Moreira, who partnered Buckaroo in the Underwood Stakes, will again be aboard in the Turnbull Stakes.
Waller also has Cups hopefuls Valiant King and Francesco Guardi nominated, with the latter also entered for The Bart Cummings (2500m), while Atishu will take her place with Waller confident the step up to 2000m will see an improved performance third-up.
“She was a touch plain first-up, second-up she was a touch plain, but she will come on with those runs and be ready for 2000 metres now,” Waller said.
The Waller quintet is among 23 entries for the Turnbull Stakes with Eliyass, Warmonger, Fawkner Park, Place Du Carrousel and one-time Melbourne Cup favourite Circle Of Fire also nominated.