Leading jockey James McDonald has avoided injury after a fall on key Cox Plate hope Via Sistina in Tuesday morning trackwork at Moonee Valley.
While McDonald has been declared fit, Via Sistina, the $4.20 second favourite with Picklebet, is in some doubt for the Group 1 Cox Plate.
After dislodging McDonald, Via Sistina continued to run at a steady clip, before being round up and examined, with connections now worried the seven-year-old might struggle to recover from the taxing ordeal.
“Nah she seems good and i’m alright,” McDonald said.
“She has been going so well for the last two weeks or so and her form has been sensational out of the Turnbull. She was the right horse to do it.
“She really enjoys the Valley and she has been worked well here last Thursday and she was working well until she tripped herself over there.
“It’s in the lap of the gods really.”
Via Sistina, which has eased in Cox Plate betting since the fall and barrier draw, is now paying $4.20 to win the group 1, with Prognosis ($3) the bookies elect.
McDonald said the incident appeared not to have fazed Via Sistina, with it believed to have been caused by a loose bandage, which caused her to trip.
“First thing I thought she went amiss or broke down, so the most posituve thing is that she’s stayed on her feet and done another lap, sound as a bell,” he said.
“It could have been a lot worse.”
Via Sistina trainer Chris Waller said he would give the Turnbull Stakes winner up until the last minute to prove her fitness for the Cox Plate.
“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.”
Waller will also have Kovalica in the Cox Plate, with the $31 shot set to be partnered by Mark Zahra.
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