Champion mare Via Sistina has been retired, trainer Chris Waller announced on Sunday, following a Randwick trial that prompted discussions among connections. The eight-year-old mare earned nearly $20 million in prize money and recorded 12 Group 1 victories.
Waller said the decision came after Via Sistina failed to show her usual high energy levels this preparation, following her second Cox Plate win and victory in the Champion Stakes. “She hasn’t come back this preparation as her normal highly energetic self,” he noted.
Waller praised the mare’s toughness and determination, thanking his team and Yulong, who brought Via Sistina to Australia in 2024 after a successful overseas career. “The entire Chris Waller Racing team need to be congratulated,” he said.
Via Sistina will return to the UK to become a broodmare. Yulong expressed pride and excitement for her next chapter, stating, “The closing of one chapter leads to the opening of another.”
