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Live sport on SN this weekendVia Sistina claims 'stirring' Cox Plate win
SEN • October 26th, 2025 1:58 am
The Moonee Valley racecourse has been sent out in style with a thrilling Cox Plate, which saw Via Sistina go back-to-back in the 2040 metre Group One.
The race proved to be far closer than her victory in 2024, but the eight-year-old once again showed why she was the favourite to win the storied race.
The Chris Waller trained mare managed to pass Treasurethe Moment in the final moments and held off a challenge from her stablemate in Buckaroo to claim a historic victory.
It now sees Via Sistina become the fourth mare to have won multiple Cox Plates, joining the likes of Winx, Flight and Sunline.
On SEN Track, Josh Jenkins, Cam Luke and David Taggart gave their reaction to how the race unfolded.
Luke: “Chris Waller has got his sixth Cox Plate in his wonderful career, J-Mac (James McDonald) has four straight.
“Buckaroo had every opportunity. Treasurethe Moment was good, but in the end, Via Sistina goes back-to-back and wins the W.S. Cox Plate.”
Taggart: “Chris Waller, take a bow.
“A lot (of people) wrote off Buckaroo, I was one of them from his last run, and he has pushed an ultimate champion in Via Sistina.”
Jenkins: "It's all about her, though. The heart of a champion.
“She was going to get beaten all the way down that straight, and she just refused (to be beaten).
Taggart: “JJ, well said. It’s a 180-metre run in here, she was going to get beat five times…”
Jenkins: “She refused to let it get past her. He’s quinellaed the race, Chris Waller.
“She just flat out said, you’re not getting past me.”
Luke: “I will tell you this, Light Infantry Man and the speed he put into the race meant that Antino couldn’t win, he was gone at the thousand (metre mark), and it suited two horses in particular, and they were the two who fought it out.
“Buckaroo needed a quick tempo as did Via Sistina, and they, in the end, were the two horses that expected speed with Globe and with Light Infantry Man zooming down the side, (it was) outstanding.”
While on RSN, race caller Matt Hill couldn’t help but declare that the mare has added herself to the legend of the racecourse.
“The grand old Valley (is) rocking and Via Sistina has done it!” he declared as the crowd went berserk.
“One more legend has been made!
“James McDonald with four in a row, (he) joins Brent Thomson (in winning four Cox Plates) and has beaten Buckaroo in a stirring race.
“What a race. What a finale to this mighty racecourse.”
The racecourse will now undergo a redevelopment, which will see the old grandstand demolished.
It is expected that Moonee Valley will be back hosting racing by 2027.
