Empire Rose Stakes winner Atishu now faces a significant challenge in his bid to win the Champions Day for the third consecutive year.

She will face renowned stablemate and runaway Cox Plate winner Via Sistina in the Group 1 TAB Champions Stakes, her trainer Chris Waller said.

Atishu won the G2 Matriarch Stakes two years ago and also won the G1 TAB Champions Stakes last year.

“He’s got good opposition. He’s not going to worry about them, he’s going to say watch out for me,” Waller noted.

McDonald said he struggled to understand how Atishu could not edge Pride Of Jenni when she finished second in last year’s Empire Rose Stakes. He also finished fifth in 2022.

“I couldn’t believe she lost her performance here last year and as it turned out, Pride Of Jenni was an absolute star. She’s just a quality filly, I’m really proud of her,” McDonald said.

“His performance last year was like a win. I couldn’t believe we had an absolute champion and a fantastic horse in the Pride of Jenni.”