Via Sistina takes out historic 104th Cox Plate in ‘Winx like’ performance after record-breaking run

Via Sistina has cruised home in a record-breaking Cox Plate run, dominating the field to win the historic race by eight lengths.

Japenese stallion Prognosis came in as the favourite ahead of Pride of Jenni who went to the front early but was quickly hauled in by the pack.

It was here Via Sistina launched her charge on the turn and left the rest of the field in her wake taking the Cox Plate by eight lengths in a canter.

Such was the dominance, jockey James McDonald sat up in the saddle from nearly 50m out as he became just the second man to win three consecutive Cox Plates on three different horses in what was his 100th Group 1 win.

Channel Seven commentator Jason Richardson described the performance as ‘Winx-like’ such was the dominance.

She equalled the record-winning margin set by Winx (2016) while also broke the track record previously held by Winx.

Via Sistina was highly rated coming into the race but a training mishap on Tuesday saw the mare run almost 5km on its own after throwing McDonald after tangling her feet on loose strapping casting doubts over the seven-year-old mare.

“We’ve done these things before, she’s a good horse I’ve just done my job to prove it,” an emotional Chris Waller said.

“The Cox Plate is on every year if she didn’t make it who cares, she’s alive and James is alive.

“Just a great team effort from everyone in Sydney, this is the pinnacle of racing and it’s great for the whole industry and the world.

“I thought she could win but I never thought she could do it by that much!”

McDonald admitted he thought his Cox Plate hopes were over after the fall he took on Tuesday.

“The pace was nice and I had such a smooth run in the first half, and she just blended in an loved it, she won like Winx,” McDonald said.

“I thought our hopes were doomed on Tuesday, we were stuffed.

“She’s not an easy horse to ride, things needed to go our way and the momentum of coming up to 100 wins has been heavy but to do it in a Cox Plate I couldn’t even believe it, it’s surreal.”

McDonald was fined $2000 for a celebratory pose prior to the winning post but it will do little to dampen the euphoria of a stunning ride.