Can the champ defend her crown?

Chris Waller admits he does have some worries for Via Sistina in this weekend’s Group 1 Cox Plate.

The star mare, who destroyed her rivals in track-record time by eight lengths in last year’s Cox Plate, will likely start a short favourite in this year’s edition.

However, in a small field she’s going to need a cracking pace if she is to power over the top of her rivals.

And that is why Waller is a bit concerned.

“I am worried,” Waller told SENTrack & RSN’s Giddy Up.

“But we’ll ride our own race on Saturday. This is her Grand Final.

“She needs to make her own luck, her own sectional times. We’ll do it, we’ll be riding our own race.

“It’s the Cox Plate, it’s her Grand Final. It’s like in any sport, it brings out good competition.

“They’ll all think they can win a Cox Plate, they’ll get going early. Via won’t miss the boat on Saturday.”

But Waller did find plenty of solace in the fact that Via Sistina’s times and splits are just as they were 12 months ago.

“Compare her? Look, she’s the same,” he said.

“She hasn't won her last couple of runs, but if you break down the sectional times she’s going as well.

“We just haven’t had the pressure in the races that we would have liked, so subsequently she hasn’t won.

“But she’s going very well.”

After riding Via Sistina at Breakfast with the Best at Moonee Valley on Tuesday morning, champion jockey James McDonald was buoyed by her enthusiasm.

“She was really enthusiastic, it was good a work as we could have hoped for,” McDonald said.

“Two weeks ago she didn’t work with that sort of enthusiasm. She’s obviously prepping up beautifully.”

J-Mac suggests master trainer Waller has got her primed at the perfect time.

“He gets it right all the time and he seems to be timing her preparation perfectly.”

Via Sistina is currently the $2 favourite with Sportsbet for Australia’s premier weight-for-age race.

She drew barrier five for the 2040m Group 1.

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