Via Sistina a confirmed starter for Makybe Diva Stakes after Treasurethe Moment’s withdrawal

For the third time in the past week, Via Sistina has had a change to her spring program and will now contest this Saturday’s $750,000 Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington.

The 1600-metre event was identified as a likely next step for Via Sistina after her Winx Stakes win, but it was announced last week by her owner, Yulong, that she would be set on a different path as it did not want her to clash with its other star mare, Treasurethe Moment.

Via Sistina was to trial on Tuesday morning ahead of a start in Saturday week’s 7 Stakes at Randwick, but the Makybe Diva Stakes was put back on the radar after Treasurethe Moment suffered a mild bout of colic on Monday morning, ruling her out of the Makybe Diva Stakes.

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Waller confirmed plans for Via Sistina around an hour before she was scheduled to trial at Rosehill.

“Via Sistina will not trial this morning and will instead race in the Makybe Diva Stakes this Saturday at Flemington,” Waller said.

“She galloped well this morning and I am happy with her fitness levels.

“James McDonald will take the ride and Damian Lane will ride Aeliana.”

Via Sistina and Aeliana, who was narrowly defeated by her star stablemate in the Winx Stakes, were among 12 entries for the Makybe Diva Stakes.

Mr Brightside, Antino, Another Wil and Tom Kitten are among their potential rivals.

One absentee from the entries was Fangirl, who returned to Sydney after her disappointing run in the Group 1 Memsie Stakes and will continue her build-up to the $5 million Group 1 King Charles III Stakes (1600m) out of Waller’s Rosehill base.

Via Sistina and Aeliana heading to Melbourne leaves her as Waller’s frontline hope in the $1 million 7 Stakes, but there is also the option of contesting the following week’s Group 2 Golden Pendant (1400m) as a final lead-up to the October 18 King Charles III Stakes.

Meanwhile, the anticipated clash between two of the Yulong Stud mares in the Cox Plate may still be on after a positive report from Sam Fairgray on Treasurethe Moment.

Fairgray, the Chief Operating Officer of Yulong Stud, said Treasurethe Moment was back at trainer Matt Laurie’s stable after being hospitalised following a mild case of colic.

It is hoped Treasurethe Moment may be able to keep her Cox Plate dreams alive, and a clash with Via Sistina, by starting in the Group 2 Feehan Stakes (2000m) at Moonee Valley on September 26.

Fairgray said the Group 1 Might And Power (2000m) at Caulfield on October 11 was the likely next path towards the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on October 25.

Last week Yulong announced Treasurethe Moment and Via Sistina would not clash before the Cox Plate with Treasurethe Moment heading to Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday while Via Sistina was going to either the 7 Stakes (1600m) at Randwick or the Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield on September 20.

Fairgray reported Treasurethe Moment was bright on Tuesday morning, eating, with all the signs being positive with Laurie thinking of starting the mare in the Feehan Stakes.

He said the next few days would be crucial to ensure Treasurethe Moment is back on her feed before Laurie can step up the work.

“She’ll have an easy few days and then Matt will start to step her back up again,” Fairgray told SEN.

“After the Feehan, then we’ll decide if she goes to the Might And Power with the Cox Plate still on the plan.

“Obviously, we’ll let her tell us and if for any reason she’s not ready for those races we’ll give her more time as there’s plenty of options.

“It was only a light bout of colic. The signs are all very positive and it would be good to see her in the Cox Plate and match up with all the best ones.”