Via Sistina crowned queen of Australian turf

Via Sistina’s record-breaking season has seen her crowned the 2024/2025 Sportsbet Australian Racehorse of the Year.

The mighty mare took all before her in 24/25, claiming a historic seven Group 1 victories – equalling Winx with the most top-flight races won in a single season.

Chris Waller’s star galloper confirmed her status as Australia’s premier middle-distance horse with one of the most sublime performances in recent memory – an eight-length Cox Plate demolition.

On the back of four Group 1s in the spring, the eight-year-old had her sights set back on the Sydney autumn, with victories in both the Group 1 Verry Elleegant and the Ranvet.

Her near faultless campaign was capped off with redemption in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes, slicing through the ruck for her record-equalling seventh Group 1 of the season.

As a result, Via Sistina was also named the Australian Middle Distance Horse of the Year.

Waller himself clinched a 13^th successive Champion Group 1 Trainer title, in a season where he broke his own record at the topflight with an astounding 19 Group 1 victories.

Meanwhile, champion hoop James McDonald – who rode Via Sistina in five of her feature wins – dominated the 24/25 racing season, amassing 15 Group 1s – only one shy of Malcolm Johnston’s all-time record.

“The Australian Racehorse of the Year Awards celebrate the incredible accomplishments of the stars of the turf, and it was another remarkable class in 2025/26,” Racing Queensland Executive General Manager Richard Goodbody said.

“Having captured seven Group 1s including her victories in the Cox Plate and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, Via Sistina was a deserving winner of Racehorse of the Year and is the latest incredible mare we’ve been able to witness since the turn of the century.

“It was almost fitting that Black Caviar and Winx were elevated to legend status on the same occasion.

“From a Queensland perspective, it was wonderful to see two of our greatest exports – Peter Moody and Zac Purton – inducted into the Hall of Fame and for our first Melbourne Cup winner, Knight’s Choice, to be crowned the Stayer of the Year.

“We extend our congratulations to all of the finalists, winners and Hall of Fame inductees and look forward to another exciting season ahead.”

Marhoona confirmed her status as the Champion 2YO of the Year courtesy of her thrilling victory in the $5 million Group 1 Golden Slipper earlier this year.

Amongst an outstanding crop of three-year-old fillies, Treasurethe Moment’s trio of Group 1s elevated her above all others, whilst Golden Rose and Rosehill Guineas champion Broadsiding took out Champion 3YO Colt/Gelding of the Year.

Champion Sprinter of the Year Bella Nipotina’s coronation as one of the darlings of Australian racing was complete as she secured the world’s richest race on turf, The Everest, to take her career earnings to more than $22.5 million and within sight of the legendary Winx.

Unsurprisingly, Queensland’s first ever Melbourne Cup winner Knight’s Choice was anointed Champion Stayer of the Year in one of the fairytale stories of the year.

The relatively unknown Queensland stayer took up a cups path, having last won a race in December, 2023 and by the end of the spring he was a household name, claiming the race that stops a nation at near triple figure odds.

The afternoon also saw Duke Of Bedford named Champion Jumper of the Year, after becoming the first horse in eight years to complete the famous Brierly-Grand Annual Steeplechase double at Warrnambool earlier this year.

Finally, Zoustar ended I Am Invincible’s three-time reign as Champion Sire with his progeny’s stakes exceeding $26 million, whilst amassing 198 winners from 375 runners at a strike rate over 50% - headlined by two-time Group 1 winner Joliestar and William Reid champ Schwarz.

The gala lunch was also hosted alongside the Sportsbet Australian Racing Hall of Fame ceremony, which saw two of the nation’s greatest ever thoroughbreds – Winx and Black Caviar – elevated to ‘Legend’ status.

Hydrogen (Horse), Mahogany (Horse), Peter Moody (Trainer), Zac Purton (Jockey), and John Tapp (Associate) were also acknowledged as this year’s Hall of Fame inductees.