The Chris Waller-trained pair of Via Sistina and Fangirl have impressed returning to trackwork at Rosehill on Tuesday morning in preparation for a first-up assault in the Group 1 Winx Stakes (1400m) on August 24.
Via Sistina was the first to step out in the opening 1000m jump-out on the course proper, with the six-year-old mare being sighted for the first time since suffering a 6.5-length defeat by Pride Of Jenni in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) on April 13.
The Group 1 Ranvet Stakes (2000m) winner was taken back to the rear of the field by James McDonald, and only asked for a minor effort in the home straight, managing a fifth-place finish amongst seven runners as Williamsburg led all the way to score by 3.3 lengths.
The Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained Eliyass caught the eye in the same trial as well, with the French import looking to build on an impressive debut victory in the Listed Lord Mayor’s Cup (2000m) at Randwick on June 8.
Fangirl was sent around in the third heat of the morning and looks to have returned in excellent order, cruising through the wire under her own steam over the 900m journey, closing within 3.9 lengths of two-time Group 1 winner Tropical Squall.
The daughter of Sebring did enough to hold firm with online bookmakers, with Fangirl still the current +250 favourite for the Group 1 Winx Stakes at Randwick on August 24, while Via Sistina is clear on the second line of betting at +350.
The pair are set to clash on multiple occasions throughout the spring racing carnival, with grand final day set to be pencilled in for the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on October 26.
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