In what will be remembered as one of the most thrilling chapters in Australian racing history, the magnificent mare Sistina delivered a performance for the ages to secure victory in the 2025 Cox Plate at Moonee Valley.
A Battle For The Ages
The atmosphere was electric as Australia's weight-for-age championship unfolded in spectacular fashion. Sistina, showing the heart of a true champion, dug impossibly deep in the final straight to fend off a determined challenge from the gallant Mr Brightside, who pushed her to her absolute limits in a duel that will be talked about for generations.
McDonald Makes History
While Sistina captured the glory, her pilot James McDonald wrote his own piece of history, becoming the first jockey to claim four Cox Plate victories. The New Zealand-born superstar added this latest triumph to his previous wins, cementing his status as one of the greatest jockeys ever to grace the Australian turf.
'She's just incredible,' an emotional McDonald declared after the race. 'When Mr Brightside came at us, I asked for everything she had, and she found more. Horses like this come along once in a lifetime.'
The Winning Moment
As the field turned for home, spectators held their breath while Sistina and Mr Brightside engaged in a breathtaking battle down the Moonee Valley straight. With every stride, the mare demonstrated why she's considered one of the finest thoroughbreds in training, refusing to yield under immense pressure.
Record Books Rewritten
The 2025 edition of the Cox Plate will be remembered not just for Sistina's courageous victory, but for McDonald's historic achievement. His fourth Cox Plate triumph places him in a category all his own, surpassing the legendary jockeys who came before him.
The victory marks another highlight in what has been an extraordinary season for both horse and jockey, proving that when champions unite, magic happens on the racetrack.
