Via Sistina defies track work scare as James McDonald claims his third consecutive Cox Plate: ‘It was a Winx-like performance’

Champion jockey James McDonald has claimed his third consecutive Cox Plate with a dominant victory aboard Via Sistina at Moonee Valley.

It was McDonald’s 100th Group 1 triumph, and follows his wins on Romantic Warrior and Anamoe in the past two years.

Trainer Chris Waller was reduced to tears post-race, having won Australasia’s weight-for-age championship for the fifth time after his four victories with super mare Winx.

Via Sistina also broke the track record in her eight-length demolition job, recording a time of 2.01.07. 

Japanese raider and pre-race favourite Prognosis was second, with Godolphin’s Broadsiding third.

It comes after Via Sistina was involved in a trackwork scare earlier with McDonald fearing his Cox Plate hopes for 2024 were gone.

‘I thought we were doomed,’ McDonald said.

‘If looks could tell a story we were stuffed.’ 

James McDonald won his third consecutive Cox Plate after steering Via Sistina to victory

The champion jockey salutes the bumper crowd at Mooney Valley for the 2024 Cox Plate

The jockey was also in tears after the race after achieving what he previously believed might be the impossible.

‘I’m just so lucky. What this mare has been through and she’s just an absolute star. I’m so lucky to be a part of it,’ McDonald said. 

‘I love this race, I love this place. To win a Cox Plate with Chris Waller, who is my biggest supporter, is special.

‘I am blessed. So blessed. It was a Winx-like performance. I can’t believe it.’

Earlier, Ben Allen steered Baraqiel to a dominant win in the Group 2 McEwen Stakes.

Trainer Troy Corstens said Baraqiel will head towards the Group 1 Champions Sprint, to be run on the final day of Flemington’s Melbourne Cup carnival in a fortnight.

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