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Via Sistina is poised for another Cox Plate triumph on Saturday at Moonee Valley - and it would take a brave punter to back against the brilliant mare.
The Irish-bred eight-year-old won the time-honoured, Group 1 race in emphatic fashion last year, and once again has champion jockey James McDonald in the saddle.
McDonald is chasing his fourth successive Cox Plate, having also won the weight-for-age event over 2040m on board Romantic Warrior (2023) and Anamoe (2022).
The Kiwi hoop is understandably nervous given Via Sistina's $2.15 price, as he seeks to join Hugh Bowman as a victor in the prestigious race across four successive years.
'She is going to have to improve on her last two runs because she has been beaten two lengths in both of them,' McDonald said this week ahead of the 105th staging of the Cox Plate.
'But I think she can. Her latest work has been about two lengths better than what it was earlier in the campaign and I think she is ready to race at her peak again.'
Via Sistina is poised for another Cox Plate triumph on Saturday at Moonee Valley - and it would take a brave punter to back against the mare (pictured)
The Irish-bred eight-year-old won the time-honoured, Group 1 race in emphatic fashion last year, and once again has champion jockey James McDonald (pictured) in the saddle
With a prize purse of $4million for the winner, Brisbane gelding Antino ($3.50) has also been heavily backed, while TreasureThe Moment ($9) should feature strongly.
Antino's former trainer Adam Campton is confident the seven-year-old can topple Via Sistina.
'I honestly think it is his race to lose, given how he is going and what he can do when he is on song,' Campton told News Corp.
'(Jockey) Blake Shinn knows him well, the horse has got an incredible set of lungs and an amazing will to win.
'And he has possibly found Via Sistina at the right stage of her career - perhaps she could be a little bit vulnerable.
'Antino looks like he is going to be cherry ripe to race.'
Esteemed Queensland trainer Tony Gollan now oversees Antino, who won the Group 1 Doomben Cup earlier this year in convincing fashion.
Previous famous winners of the Cox Plate include Phar Lap, Might And Power, Makybe Diva and Winx.
Coverage is live on Channel 7 and Sky Racing, with the start time 5:40pm AEDT.
