“Remarkably fine”: Waller, J-Mac to play Cox Plate waiting game after Via Sistina mishap

Chris Waller will play a waiting game with Via Sistina ahead of this weekend’s Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m).

The star mare tripped on the turn at Tuesday morning’s Breakfast With The Best gallop at Moonee Valley, dumping jockey James McDonald in the process.

Via Sistina then proceeded to run a numerous laps of The Valley circuit as Waller's Racing staff and course attendants attempted to rein her in.

It certainly was not an ideal preparation for the prestigious weight-for-age race which takes place this Saturday with Via Sistina second favourite prior to her mishap.

Waller says Via Sistina, thankfully, has pulled up well.

“She’s remarkably fine,” he told SENTrack.

“We can see that she tripped, put in an awkward stride and you always fear the worst. When the horse continued on, that was great, and for James to get on his feet was good also.

“Anything else is a bonus once you’ve got that far and fortunately she looks like she’s fine. Our vet has been over her, there’s not a piece of hair or skin off and she seems fine.

“But it’s a long week and we’ll see how she is later in the week.”

Waller says a final decision will be made at 7:30am on Saturday morning. 

“Use all the time you can get and make sure she’s 100 per cent,” he added.

The master trainer said the plan was to send Via Sistina out for a 3.5km run with a rider aboard on Wednesday, but instead they’ll now head to the beach for a freshen up. 

It will be a quiet Thursday instead of the scheduled gallop before the ‘captain’s run’ on Friday to tune up. 

McDonald said Via Sistina tripped herself on a loose bandage in what was a “freak accident”.

“It’s been a bit of topsy-turvy preparation,” said McDonald, who is still chasing his 100th Group 1 win.

“She was going beautifully and a bandage must have got loose, her front leg got tied to her back leg and she tripped herself over.

“It was just a freak accident. It was a one in a million scenario.”

Troy Stephens from Yulong Investments spoke to Gareth Hall immediately after the incident and cast some doubt on her position in the great race.

“I’d say very unlikely at this stage,” he said.

“She did have a heart rate monitor on so we’ll see how high that got. 

“She’s a super mare. As long as she’s alright we’re happy.”

Via Sistina drew barrier 4 for the Cox Plate with race favourite Prognosis in 5, Pride Of Jenni in 7 and gun three-year-old Broadsiding in 8.

The Champions Stakes at the final day of the Flemington carnival will no doubt be on the agenda for Via Sistina if she does not run in the Cox Plate.