Four Cox Plates: What J-Mac is most proud of

James McDonald was full of pride after winning a fourth successive Cox Plate.

The star jockey partnered with Chris Waller’s superstar mare Via Sistina on Saturday to go back-to-back in Australia’s premier weight-for-age race.

His second Plate on ‘Via’ added to the two previous editions he won with Anamoe and Romantic Warrior, and it all means so much to him.

“It was really special, it was a big team effort that’s for sure,” McDonald said on SEN’s Whateley.

“I’m extremely proud of it, obviously it’s one of the greatest races on our calendar, and it’s been like that for over a century.

“I’m more proud of the great association with a champion stable and I’ve ridden three great horses - arguably the best horses I’ve sat on - Anamoe, Romantic (Warrior) and Via.

“They’ve been so special to me and my family.”

McDonald praised the eight-year-old import who is now an 11-time Group 1 winner who has raked in more than $17 million in prize money.

Via Sistina had to dig deep to beat stablemate Buckaroo but she did so with what J-Mac describes as one of her grittiest performances.

“Her longevity, a great will to win, she’s just been a revelation since she’s come down here,” he said of Via.

“She’s never let us down to be fair. She always runs the best she can possibly run, she leaves everything out there.

“It wasn’t her most spectacular performance but I think it was one of her grittiest. She’s been in some close finishes as well. She was down and out on the corner and she just fought and fought and got a well deserved victory.

“I think she really deserved that to become a dual Cox Plate winner and go among the greats that have won this race twice.

“It’s such a hard race to win, you need to be a star and that’s exactly what she is.”

Master trainer Waller hinted that Via Sistina could do what she did last year and run at Flemington on the back of a Cox Plate win.

The Champions Stakes over 2000m on the final day of the Flemington Carnival looks the most likely scenario.

It was the feeling of relief that enveloped McDonald after winning the Cox Plate.

Reflecting on his feelings after the victory, the 33-year-old said it was an overwhelming sense relief.

“I think this one is relief as well,” McDonald explained in his post-race interview with Racing.com.

“I love this place, I’m blessed to ride champion racehorses, I’m blessed to be a part of a champion stable, and she was trained to the minute.

“I can’t thank the Waller team… like everyone, they’re exceptional horse people, they love their horses, (strapper) Candice (Persijn) lives and breathes this horse, she deserves a lot of the credit with this horse.

“Even though it wasn’t seven lengths, I’m just over the moon.”

Waller was also interviewed in the aftermath of the race, noting that everything for Via Sistina had gone perfectly.

“Everything has gone perfectly,” he said.

“I know she hasn’t won her last two runs, but all the data suggest she’s flying.

“And once they set those benchmarks, providing the horse is healthy and well, you know they are going to get somewhere close to it, and that’s what we knew this week.”