Yulong had no joy in Australia with their expensive acquisition Alcohol Free, but may have a better experience with Fastnet Rock’s Group I winning daughter Via Sistina (IRE), who they purchased for 2.7million guineas at the Tattersalls December Mares Sale last year.
She is due to get out of her quarantine period at Canterbury this weekend and will join the team at Chris Waller Racing at Rosehill.
A late bloomer, Via Sistina struck career best form last year as a five year-old when trained by George Boughey and won the Group I Curragh Pretty Polly Stakes in Ireland before placing in three more consecutive Group I races with her last run in October a gallant second to gun three year old colt King of Steel in the Group I British Champions Stakes at 2000m.
She is entered for the Group I ATC Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) with the Group I ATC Ranvet Stakes (2000m) as her lead up, a path followed successfully by other high profile imports Adeybb (GB) and Dubai Honour (IRE).
"She is likely to have one more piece of work here (Canterbury) and then move across then go straight into the Ranvet Stakes next Saturday," Waller's assistant trainer Charlie Duckworth told Racenet.
"It's not an easy path to plot but Addeybb, both times he came down to duel with Verry Elleegant, he ran in the Champions Stakes at Ascot.
"It's same race she ran second in last start so it's certainly the right form out of Europe to come down here with. She is right in it.
"Her form is slightly better on a wet track but you never know what they Sydney autumn can throw us."
Via Sistina is a fascinating horse as she is the original ugly duckling that grew into a swan.
Her original owners Stephen and Becky Hillen purchased her as a yearling for 5,000 guineas at the Tattersalls December Sale and they were over the moon when she sold at the Tattersalls December Mares Sale last year fetching 2.7million guineas to be the second highest priced mare at the sale.
“It has been a dream! I thought that she'd bring in 2,000,000 guineas plus, that cross is sensational,” Stephen Hillen said at the time.
"She was a Group 1 winner, but arguably she ran great in the Champion Stakes and she was still improving all the time. It is nice now to see her almost certainly be retired sound and go to stud. I was fine watching her sell - I thought that if we don't get what we want for her, we can still race her so it was a celebration either way."
You can bet the Hillen’s will be watching closely when Via Sistina steps out on Saturday week.
Fastnet Rock mares are proving a rising force in world breeding, so win, lose or draw, Yulong have added a very special mare to their collection.
