Oaks plan for Aeliana

[Wandering Eyes]

The Gr.1 Australian Oaks at Randwick in April is part of an ambitious autumn plan for one of the country’s most promising fillies Aeliana (NZ) (Castelvecchio).

The Gr.3 Carbine Club Stakes winner, who went on to a luckless second in the Gr.1 Thousand Guineas at Caulfield in November, is back in work at Chris Waller’s Rosehill stables and is building up to a return to the races in the first week of March, according to managing owner Denise Martin.

Purchased by Martin’s Star Thoroughbreds from Rich Hill Stud for NZ$180,000 at Karaka two years ago, Aeliana has been set the task of a Gr.1 Surround Stakes (1400m) first-up at Randwick on March 1, on her way to possible run in the $1 million Gr.1 Australian Oaks (2400m) at Randwick on April 12.

In between, a run in the Gr.2 Phar Lap Stakes (1500m) on March 15 and the Gr.1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill on March 29 are likely.

Martin said this week that while the program will surely test the Castelvecchio filly, who progressed from Benchmark grade in the spring, she is confident Aeliana will excel as she rises in distance.

“Chris has a very interesting program in mind at the moment and it’s a very exciting one,” Martin said.

“It starts off with the Surround on the first of March and possibly a fortnight later in the Phar Lap and if that went well, she could progress to the Vinery and then ultimately the Oaks if she was handling things well.

“We’ve had some wonderful fillies and mares over the time in this business such as Driefontein, Danglissa, Invincibella, Foxplay, Espiona, etc… and this filly may be the best of them all in terms of ultimate achievement as she should get the chance at a number of Group One races across her career.”

When Martin purchased Aeliana as a yearling, she was thinking she might get to 2000 metres, but a post-race conference with Waller and race rider James McDonald has convinced her an Oaks trip is within her range.

“At Caulfield that day Chris said he had every confidence that she can progress to an Oaks and James was of the same opinion and until you try it, you really don’t know,” Martin said.

Martin is on her way to the Karaka sales this week and there is one young horse who is sure to be marked in her book in Lot 351. She is a half-sister to Aeliana, by Proisir.

View the full article