Chris Waller has revealed that champion mare Via Sistina could follow a similar path to her Group 1-laden 2024 spring campaign as she prepares to resume this season in a star-studded Randwick trial on Tuesday.

Via Sistina headlines the first of 17 heats at Randwick’s Kensington track, lining up in an 850m trial against stablemate Fangirl and Godolphin stars Tom Kitten and Zardozi. It will be her first public appearance ahead of a spring return.

Waller is eyeing the Group 1 Winx Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on August 23 as her first major assignment before a potential switch to Melbourne for the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) on September 13 at Flemington.

Last spring, Via Sistina ran fifth in the Makybe Diva before sweeping Melbourne’s premier middle-distance races, winning the Turnbull Stakes, Cox Plate and Champions Stakes. She added three more Group 1s in Sydney during the autumn.

“She’s come back stronger. She’s adapted to the Australian way of training and racing now,” Waller said. “It takes a while with mares, but she’s in a great place physically.”

Waller confirmed plans would be discussed with owners Yulong, especially regarding their other elite mares, like Treasurethe Moment, who could also target Melbourne features.

“The new King Charles III Stakes has changed the calendar a bit, and that opens the Makybe Diva up as an option. It might be Via Sistina’s only run in Sydney,” he said. “We’ll map out the campaign with the owners and make sure we spread our top horses where it suits.”

He also hinted that Fangirl could follow a similar trajectory, suggesting the Makybe Diva might be an ideal second-up option for her before returning for the King Charles.

Waller played down expectations for Tuesday’s trial, saying: “They’re next to each other in the stables, and I expect they’ll finish near each other out the back as well.”

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