Va Via victorious in the Listed Black Pearl Stakes

Va Via continued her upward spiral and franked her impressive bloodlines when she raced away with the Listed Black Pearl Stakes over 1,200m at Geelong on Saturday, 6 January.

It was Va Via’s first Stakes victory and took her record under head trainer James Cummings to five wins and seven placings from 20 starts for prize money of $478,275.

The half-sister to G1 Spring Champion Stakes winner Tom Kitten (by Harry Angel) and Listed Canberra Guineas winner Promotions (Exceed And Excel), has matured into a magnificent mare and gave her G1-winning sire Astern his 11th individual Stakes winner.

Godolphin also finished the day on a winning note when speedy filly Shaken led all the way to score a convincing win in the Benchmark 72 Ranvet Handicap over 1,100m at Royal Randwick with Tyler Schiller in the saddle.

It was the daughter of 2014 G1 Blue Diamond winner and G1 Golden Slipper runner-up Earthquake’s third win from just five starts.