Via Sistina avoids Cox Plate havoc this year, although trainer Chris Waller fears lack of pace may not suit

Via Sistina is a firm favourite to make it back-to-back triumphs in Saturday’s Group 1 $6 million Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley after faring handily in Tuesday morning’s barrier draw, receiving gate five. The bay punctuated an indestructible campaign this time last year with an eight-length shellacking of her opposition in the Cox Plate, which was anteceded by an unforgettable Breakfast With The Best gallop where she dislodged jockey James McDonald and careened around this course. Fortunately, despite travelling keenly in her hit-out this time, she kept the partnership intact in a performance that eased trainer Chris Waller’s worries. “She was going well; strong,” Waller told SEN’s Giddy Up. “We had the earmuffs on just to bring her back a little bit, and thank goodness we did because she’s full of energy and ready to run. “James was very pleased with the piece of work.” Despite being beaten at her last two starts when third in both the Makybe Diva and Turnbull Stakes, Waller insists the $2 market leader is on track. “She’s the same (as last year),” he said. “I know she hasn’t won her last couple of runs but the sectional times, if you break them down, I think she’s going as well. “We just haven’t had the pressure in the races we would’ve liked. “I am worried (there won’t be pressure in the Cox Plate) but we’ll ride our own race on Saturday. She’s at her grand final and if she needs to make her own luck and sectional times, we’ll do it. “It’s the Cox Plate. Like any sport, it brings out good competition. There’s a three-year-old in the race, there’s lightweights, even some of the four-year-olds carry less weight. “They’ll think they can win a Cox Plate. They’ll all get going early, so Via won’t miss the boat Saturday.” Adding to Waller’s trepidation about pace is the likely scratching of Globe ($17), who has suffered irritation to a fetlock joint. Globe, who led all the way to win the Group 1 Might And Power (2000m) at Caulfield last start, underwent a Sleip Test on Monday and Racing Victoria vets said it was likely he would be ruled out of Saturday’s clash. The gelding’s connections paid a $200,000 fee to supplement him for the Cox Plate, particularly due to his front-running style. If Via Sistina salutes this weekend, she will become the first eight-year-old mare to have ever achieved the feat. Waller will also be represented by Aeliana ($8.50), who was confirmed at the eleventh hour after impressing her trainer in recent days, and “warhorse” Buckaroo ($17), who opted for the weight-for-age contest instead of last Saturday’s Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) where he would have lugged 59kg topweight. Tony Gollan’s Antino ($3.80), whose racing pattern is categorised by long, looping runs around the field, is expected to offer the stiffest resistance to Waller’s brigade. + WA reinsman Kyle Symington landed his first US success aboard the Noel Daley-prepared Stay Grounded at New Jersey’s famed Meadowlands circuit on Sunday morning Australian time.