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âHad a little snoozeâ: J-Macâs insight into Via Sistina ride
Connor Scanlon ⹠ September 15th, 2025 5:26 pm
A lot of talk has been made about the extremely slow tempo of the Makybe Diva Stakes, which saw the short priced favourite Via Sistina finish third in a field of six.
Mr Brightside took out the Group 1 for a third year straight, but some pundits are discrediting his victory due to the farcical running of the race.
James McDonald, who rode Via Sistina, copped criticism for his ride on the superstar and he joined SENTrack and RSNâs Giddy Up to discuss what eventuated in the Group 1 over the mile.
âI must have just woken up now, I had a little snooze,â J-Mac joked.
âNah, it didnât play out that well for us in terms of the result, but it was a pedestrian-run race.
âMr B got it all his own way and credit to him, heâs such a good horse! Itâs incredible what heâs achieved.â
Despite experiencing heavy criticism, McDonald accepted that everyone is entitled to their own opinion.
âIt is what it is,â McDonald said.
âEveryoneâs entitled to their opinion and I respect that whether I agree with it or donât â who cares!
âThereâs always another race, thereâs always another weekend of Saturday racing.
âAs long as the horse as pulled up well and weâre safe and sound, weâre good as gold."
The 120-time Group 1 winner even revealed that his wife Katelyn McDonald was the first person to critique him.
âShe was the first one to go, âWhat were you thinking mate?ââ he revealed.
âSheâs a fair but harsh critic.
âI need it from time to time because itâs not all roses â itâs racing, anything can happen."
J-Mac admitted that he was faced with uncertainty prior to the running of the Makybe Diva, as he didnât know where Via Sistina was going to end up in the run.
âI didnât really know (where she was going to end up), to be fair,â McDonald said.
âObviously with her, she gets back in her races, she always has a bit of cover.
âI was pretty open-minded (with where Via Sistina could end up).
âShe jumped okay, Mr B was very good away from the stalls, and then we were away in second.
âShe didnât really muster speed, she was a little bit awkward after her last 100m and she just wasnât packing up like I thought. So, I elected to come back.
âObviously, in hindsight you wouldâve loved to sit outside leader now.â
Blake Shinn, who was riding Antino, didnât make the move McDonald expected he would.
He admitted that he and every other rider was waiting for Shinnâs mid-race explosion on Antino, which ended up proving detrimental to McDonaldâs ride.
âProbably everyone was waiting for Blake,â the star jockey said.
âOut of the six runners, five of us probably wouldâve done something different.
âEven 'Motty' (Jamie Mott) on the stayer (Mark Twain) didnât really put much pace in it.
âEveryone was affected apart from Mr Brightside, which best ride won the race.â
Despite finishing third, McDonald was very impressed with how Via Sistina performed given her circumstances.
âShe went pretty well under the circumstances, like sheâs not a set and sprint type of mare,â the gun hoop said of the superstar mare.
âShe gets better as the preparations go on and sheâs got some lofty targets in mind two starts away.
âHer Grand Final is obviously the Cox Plate (2040m) and thatâs where hopefully sheâll be setting that track alight again.
âIâm looking forward to Viaâs next couple of starts and Iâm sure sheâll be very hard to beat.â
