Via Sistina, trained by Chris Waller, was honored as the TAB NSW Champion Horse of the Year at Racing’s Night of Champions for her remarkable 2024/2025 season, during which she matched Winx’s record of seven Group 1 wins in a single season. The eight-year-old mare was also named NSW Middle Distance Horse of the Year, with the awards decided by a panel of industry experts from a shortlist of 43 finalists based on top finishes in Group and Listed races. The event celebrated the NSW thoroughbred racing industry’s best, with over 300 guests attending at Royal Randwick.
The night also recognized other standout performers, including Lady Shenandoah, who won two awards, and industry stalwart Debbie Kepitis, the inaugural recipient of the NSWROA Industry Recognition Award for her sustained contributions to the sport. Chris Waller further cemented his legacy by winning his 14th consecutive T J Smith Award for Leading Sydney Trainer and the Bart Cummings Medal. The event was hosted by the NSW Racehorse Owners Association, marking its 60th anniversary, and will be broadcast on SKY Thoroughbred Central.
