Via Sistina's masterpiece to join the Cox Plate masterpieces

Masterpiece after masterpiece – The Cox Plate’s gift.

How do you follow up the breathless finish where no margin was perceptible as Romantic Warrior and Mr Brightside hit the line? With the complete opposite.

A romp so grand that there’s never been a bigger margin and the track record was obliterated in a race that was simply astonishing.

Les Carlyon noted in the late 80s about the trouble with the Cox Plate - How do you write about the race without appearing to slobber? And that was true of Saturday.

Not only the visual spectacle of a race won with an annihilating move at the school… but add in the drama of the week.

The horse that dropped the jockey and bolted… free-wheeling around two circuits of the Valley at the ceremonial breakfast… free wheeled and bolted in the championship race… the jockey so exuberant in his celebration that you feared he might fall off again! It was all instantly enshrined in folklore.

The genius of Chris Waller – master trainer, horse psychologist, coach. The accomplishment of James McDonald – living the mantra of Shane Warne to produce the most spectacular to bring up the milestone, and the ascension to Via Sistina to legend.

There was such anticipation around this race. You could feel it everywhere you went around the Valley.

In the stalls Pride of Jenni hunched low, trying to avoid the attention that comes with being a cult hero. You might say she looked a bit fretful.

By contrast the old war horse Mr Brightside had his head on the side chewing the old rope next to the young whipper snapper Evaporate who had no idea what was in store… none of us did.

The striking feature of the Japanese visitor Prognosis was his eye… sharp and alert… he clocked you as soon as you moved into view.

While Via Sistina stood tall with an unmistakable elegance and confidence.

People shuffled about the tight stalls seeking a glimpse of their fancy and chattering about what the race might look like… how it would thrill us.

Much of it was based in the presence of Pride of Jenni.

The announcement of her jockey in the formalities and her entrance to the track attracted the biggest cheers.

There was a roar when Matt Hill declared she’d gone to the front, but her rivals kept her close… probably to the detriment of the Japanese favorite.

And then just as you were anticipating the race taking shape… it was suddenly over.

Wherever it is they intend to reposition the winning post on the side of the track, there’s a fair chance Via Sistina was first past that future position.

It inspired a sense of miracle and wonder. Dulcify winning by a minute, Sunline the best in the world, the Winx Blitz and now the Via Sistina rout.

It had happened before, yet it felt like nothing you’d ever seen.

There’s a fair chance Via Sistina is the highest priced mare brought to this country during the era of mass importation. She cost more than she won in the Cox Plate.

But she turned in a performance to take her place among the greats. A masterpiece to join the Cox Plate masterpieces.

And until she’s ruled in or out of the Cup – and I so hope they choose to run her – I’ll feel like we’re living under an age-old prophecy.

In 1979 Bill Collins uttered the immortal phase Dulcify’s won it by a minute and that might be the way he wins the Melbourne Cup.

Perhaps 45 years on the prophecy will come to fruition in the form of Via Sistina who won the Cox Plate by a minute and that might be the way she wins the Melbourne Cup.

If Via Sistina starts in the Melbourne Cup she’ll be the best thing since the Makybe Diva era – not just the punt but for sentiment and connection - and that’s exactly what racing needs right now.