Ominous sign for Cox Plate field as stage set for reigning champion Via Sistina

It was an uneventful morning for the Chris Waller trio of Cox Plate contestants as they had their final workouts ahead of the weight-for-age championship at Moonee Valley.

A year ago, Via Sistina dumped her rider James McDonald and galloped a couple of extra laps of The Valley before returning to the track the following Saturday to win the Cox Plate by eight lengths in race record time.

It was a more sedate Via Sistina on Tuesday morning with McDonald in the saddle and sporting a set of earmuffs when working solo.

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Stablemates Aeliana and Buckaroo also worked solo to round out their preparations after which Via Sistina drew barrier five with Aeliana in gate eight and Buckaroo in four in the nine-horse field.

Waller said it was just as well the stable fitted the earmuffs to Via Sistina as she was full of energy.

He declared the mare spot on for Saturday’s 2040m contest at weight-for-age.

“She’s the same as last year,” Waller said.

“I know she hasn’t won in her last couple of runs, but the sectional times, if you break them down, I think she’s going as well.

“We just haven’t had the pressure in the races that we would have liked. Subsequently she hasn’t won, but she’s going very well.”

Waller said he was concerned whether there would be enough pressure in Saturday’s race, but the mare will not be ridden out of her comfort zone.

“She needs to make her own luck, her own sectional times,” Waller said.

“We’ll be riding our own race. It’s a Cox Plate. It’s her grand final, it’s like any sport, it brings out good competition.”

Waller has seen steady improvement from Aeliana since she was sent to Melbourne in early September, with her coat just about where it should be.

He said in terms of ‘inner health’, Aeliana is in a good spot, just her coat has not had the glow to it the trainer has been hoping for,

“Her blood pathology is spot-on, her recovery is good, she’s working well,” Waller said.

“I can’t fault her. She’s just a young horse that’s still maturing and waiting for the spring and that warmth to bring her coat actually through.

“She’s as good as we can have her and I think she’s good enough to be running well.”

Waller made the decision to run Aeliana after watching her work at The Valley on Saturday morning and noticed her coat was beginning to get some colour, and importantly her work was good.

“That was the telling point for me, and I said, ‘yep, there’s nothing wrong with you, so you can run’,” Waller said.

Buckaroo missed starting in last week’s Caulfield Cup (2400m) in which he was topweight of 59kg.

Waller said the gelding probably needs to lift to win the Cox Plate, but the forecast of rain gives him his chance.

“We can see a little bit of rain coming and comparing to the Caulfield Cup where he had 59 kilos and which we opted out of, at weight-for-age it’s a fairer contest,” Waller said.

“We need a bit of rain, but he’s a warhorse and he’ll run up to his best.”

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Cox Plate barrier draw

1. Treasurethe Moment

2. Attrition

3. Nepotism

4. Buckaroo

5. Via Sistina

6. Antino

7. Globe

8. Aeliana

9. Light Infantry Man