"That’s just outstanding!"

Champions Stakes

Via Sistina has continued her impressive form over the spring to claim the 2000m Group 1 Champions Stakes.

Having been the favourite for the race, the eight-year-old mare timed her run to perfection, which saw her comfortably win.

In the other placings, Zambardo finished second, Tom Kitten took out third, while Pier nabbed fourth.

For Via Sistina, it is now her 12th Group 1 win and her sixth for this season.

And on SEN Track after the race was run, the performance left Cam Luke and Josh Jenkins to say that the mare is the best horse in Australia.

Luke: “Absolutley goes back-to-back. Best horse in the country.”

Jenkins: “Best horse in the race, she travelled up beautifully, heavy track, doesn’t matter.

“Zambardo…

Luke: “Huge run.”

Jenkins: “Wow, huge run, but if you didn’t win that race, Taggs, you probably wanted to run down the track.”

Taggart: “You didn’t want to be on another horse for the half mile (800m). J-Mac (James McDonald) was travelling.

“It was always going to be in the right position as you said, they were coming down the Grandstand side and that’s her best friend when she has been down here (in Flemington).

“Congratulations to J-Mac, that’s his first Group 1 win of the carnival.”

Luke: “I did touch on that, Taggs. The very fact is that I reckon that the slowly run races into the Cox Plate, she was going to get more out of that Cox Plate than we probably gave credit for and by far her best run today.

“When they anchored up going around the outside, Pier was a big run considering that it had no cover in transit, Zambardo goes back the inside, Tom Kitten ended up running third."

Gerard Whateley had a similar view to Luke’s and Jenkins', with the esteemed sports broadcaster going on to highlight where this achievement sits amongst Via Sistina’s career.

“Still our champion!” Whateley said gleefully.

“So that's six Group 1s for the season. Last year, when she was crowned Horse of the Year, it was five Group 1s.

“She’s gone the Verry Elleegant, the Ranvet (Stakes), the Queen Elizabeth (Stakes). Then the Winx (Stakes), the Cox Plate and the Champions Stakes.

“She goes back-to-back in this race; she’s done the coveted double two years in a row.

“That’s 11 Group 1s here and 12 for her career. It is a phenomenal record across the two years that she has been on our shores. And all honours to her.”

Champions Mile

In the second Group 1 race for the day, Ceolwulf would claim the Champions Mile (1600m) following his win in the King Charles Stakes last month.

The 5-year-old managed to just pip Pericles at the post after looking like it had been beaten by the Bjorn Baker-trained horse.

Stefi Magentica finished third while Treasurethe Moment finished out the placings.

Champions Sprint

Giga Kick has taken out the Group 1 Champions sprint (1200m) defeating Magic Time and Joliestar, who finished second and third respectively.

Tentyris who opened as the favourite with Sportsbet was scratched seconds before the race.

The 2022 Everest winner got free at the 250m, and at the 100m it looked like Magic Time was just going to edge out the gelding, but he dug deep and got over the line in a photo finish, delivering jockey Mark Zahra yet another victory in this year's Cup Carnival.

This was the Clayton Douglas-trained chestnut’s third crack at the Champions Sprint and now he finally has this Group 1 under his belt, after finishing seventh in 2024 and fifth in 2022.

The SENTrack Saturday Trackside broadcast panel was amazed by Giga Kick’s amazing victory, showering praise on the star.

Luke: “Giga Kick has gone bang.”

Taggart: “Giga Kick was getting niggled at, but it’s all about handling this heavy track and he handled it along with Magic Time.

“He handled it and that’s why he is such a star.

Jenkins: “Great for Clayton Douglas, they’ve been up and down with this horse.

“He was set for this race, hopefully we see him again!

Taggart: “Mark Zahra is probably rider of the carnival as well with that Group 1.”

Echoing that sentiment, Gerard Whateley marvelled at the 2022 Everest winner’s “outstanding” victory.

“I think that’s just outstanding,” he said on SENTrack's Saturday Trackside.

“His best form is back in the middle of 2023, that’s how big a patch up job this has been.

“It’s been a long and patient road.

“Outstanding for him and all the courage required at the end.”

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