Chris Waller inspects Via Sistina after she got loose at Breakfast With The Best.
Chris Waller said a final decision on Via Sistina’s Cox Plate future will be made on Saturday morning following a drama-packed morning, where the valuable mare got loose after dumping rider James McDonald.
Waller spoke at length with his vet and vets from Racing Victoria as the mare cooled down following a sustained gallop for two and a half laps of The Valley circuit.
“We’ll accept for Saturday and use all of that time up to Saturday morning to make sure everyone’s happy and the horse is 100 per cent, first and foremost,” Waller said.
“We’ll go beyond that and take bloods to make sure the vets are happy and strappers are happy so she will only run if she’s 100 per cent.”
WATCH: Chris Waller chats about Via Sistina's escapade
Waller explained the incident occurred on the point of the home turn in her gallop with stablemate Atishu when a bandage on her leg started to unravel.
“A bandage has come loose. She stood on the bandage and a piece of gear has broken and she sort of tripped and that piece of gear has got caught up in her back legs and that’s given her a fright,” Waller said.
“She’s run on fear for a couple of laps and fortunately there was a clerk of the course out there and picked the horse up and she settled back down again.
“I guess it’s live sport. It’s working with animals and what can happen in training.”
Waller admitted to some surprise when he got the chance to look over the mare who cost her owners Yulong some $5.5 million to buy out of the UK last year.
“Remarkably well,” he answered when asked of how the mare has come through the ordeal,
“She doesn’t have a hair missing. There’s no blood, she’s taken no skin off. Weve had our vet look at her and a Racing Victoria vet and our vet being over her thoroughly and I can’t believe it.
“Firstly, when I first saw it, I feared the worst and thought that something tragically has gone wrong.
“You take comfort from the fact it hasn’t happened and that she’s safe.
“Horses are unpredictable animals and she just got a fright.
“Her heart rate is back down. She’s had a nice walk and a good drink. Nealy a whole bucket of water. She’s had a nice hose – not quite an ice bath – but a hose.
“While its disappointing, I’m just so gratefully that the horse is 100 per cent.”
WATCH: James McDonald provides a Via Sistina update
When asked if Via Sistina could still take her place ono Saturday, Waller said: “I would say so.
“Obviously, we’ll use right up until Saturday morning to make that decision.
“She’s had a more than expected workout this morning. In terms of how she is, she’s recovered very well.
“She’s had a tough day at the office, or the trsining track, and the key now is this afternoon to have a nice, easy time.
“She’d normally be having a quiet gallop on Thursday but that will be abandoned. She will just have a light canter, a trip to the beach. Just let her be a horse. Nice pick of grass and let her chill out.
“It’s not ideal, but as I said, we’ve still got a horse.
Waller confirmed his rider James McDonald was also uninjured.
“He’s fine. A little bit shocked by it. He’s 100 per cent.”
Waller said for some of the crowd watching, the drama may have been shocking, but it is what potentially faces jockeys and trainers each morning.
“Training is unpredictable,” he said.
“It’s what these track riders and jockeys goi through day in and day out as well as trainers and strapper. The highs and the lows.”
Final scratching time for the Cox Plate is 7.30am on Saturday morning,