“Do not panic.”
Easy said than done, as dramatic vision of Via Sistina cutting laps around The Valley riderless spread on social media and major news bulletins.
Everything was going to plan in the Breakfast with the Best Tuesday track gallop until a boot strap unravelled and gave favourite Via Sistina a fright.
Via Sistina took the bend awkwardly as a result before dislodging jockey James McDonald and bolting.
Both horse and rider, thankfully, escaped unharmed.
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Would she be back in four days to contest the Cox Plate? Unlikely at best was the general consensus.
Not only did she return, she conquered with an eight-length win margin in track record time.
Waller has made one significant gear change to Via Sistina since.
No boots or anything preferably within striking distance of her “extravagant action”.
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“She rips things apart,” Waller said.
“She’s like the Incredible Hulk, simple as that.
“She’s an amazing athlete, it’s just part of looking after animals, things are unpredictable.
“Things change by the minute, by the hour, by the day, you never know what’s around the corner.”
Experience and “belief in our system” helped Waller navigate the Via Sistina drama last year.
Waller encountered a similar incident in 2009 when Rangirangdoo dropped jockey Corey Brown in a Breakfast with the Best gallop.
Rangirangdoo returned four days later and won the Group 2 Crystal Mile in track record time.
The Via Sistina incident hit differently last year, being favourite for Australia’s best race.
Waller relied on instinct and teamwork to get Via Sistina to race day, without any niggling doubt.
“It never got to that stage (should we pull out), each day you could see she was on target and ready to go,” Waller said.
“We backed off her work and used common sense. It still works.
“We just thought there’s nothing really wrong. There’s a process.
“Is she eating? Yes. Does she look well? Yes. Is she moving well? Yes. Drinking well? Yes. Recovered? Yes. Does the rider say she feels great? Yes. Just a process of elimination until every box was ticked.”
Waller arranged a private gallop at The Valley on the Thursday before the Cox Plate and flew Sydney-based track rider Chris Harwood, “who knows her, rides her every day”, to Melbourne to get his opinion.
Waller used the extra gallop more so to give Via Sistina peace of mind, not to fret being back at the track.
“She was fine there, she didn’t stress,” Waller said.
“Tick, tick, tick, tick and then one big one (Cox Plate win).”
Yulong racing manager Troy Stephens watched the Via Sistina drama unfold trackside, while chief operating officer Sam Fairgray heard the radio broadcast.
Waller’s immediate reactions, had Via Sistina thoroughly inspected by vets once captured and cooled down, and optimism instilled confidence in the Yulong executives.
Fairgray had the awkward task of relaying the information to Yulong owner Yuesheng Zhang.
“She was the pride and joy and Mr Zhang with his passion for racing,” Fairgray said.
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“It was one of those things you don’t want to tell him too much too early.
“Chris Waller is such a genius to what he does, I spoke to him and he said to me do not panic.
“He said ‘I think she’ll be fine’, he said ‘let’s get through today and we’ll go from there’.”
They did and would be fine, as Via Sistina bolted in for prestige and prizemoney in the Cox Plate.
Waller, a stickler for routines usually, especially good ones, is happy for a basic Tuesday gallop.
One lap of famous The Valley circuit is more than enough, should Via Sistina and company headline Breakfast with the Best.
Via Sistina, Aeliana and Buckaroo all galloped at The Valley last Saturday privately, with a view to return again on Tuesday.
“It was a strange week (last year) and then to come out and win by a record margin,” Waller said.
“No, I’m not going to let her go this year and try and replicate it!
“It showed us, she did a lot of work and it brought the best out of her, so, how do we do that … with a jockey on her back?”
Breakfast with the Best is on Tuesday from 6am at The Valley.
Entry by gold coin donation, with all proceeds to the 2025 Ladbrokes Cox Plate Carnival charity pin partner Myeloma Australia.
Gilbert Gardiner
