Aeliana set to fill Via void

[Wandering Eyes]

Champion trainer Chris Waller might not have to look too far or wait too long to fill the giant void left by the retiring great Via Sistina after giving stablemate Aeliana (NZ) (Castelvecchio) a glowing assessment ahead of her autumn return.

Aeliana has only had the one trial this year to prepare her for the autumn, but her part-owner Denise Martin of Star Thoroughbreds, said the trainer had spoken of his optimism for Aeliana’s upcoming campaign after noting a significant change in the four-year-old mare following her summer break.

“Chris said he feels this preparation, she has returned as he hoped she would have in the spring,” Martin told Racing.com.

“Chris has indicated a number of times in our conversations that she has returned better than ever.

“He wasn’t always comfortable with her coat and her weight and overall appearance in the spring. He hoped that she would have returned with a few more kilos and this time she has.

“She is really well. Coat is good and she is carrying very good condition.”

Aeliana played second fiddle to her older stablemate Via Sistina in the spring as Waller’s initial fears that maturity may hold her back slightly in her early four-year-old season, came to fruition.

Aeliana may well take the autumn path that Via Sistina has trodden in recent seasons and that Winx also took during her autumn campaigns each year.

“I would imagine Chris would look at races that Via Sistina went to last year,” Martin said. “One of Chris’ great strengths is his ability to find the right race at the right time and I am sure he will with Aeliana.”

Her campaign therefore could start with the G2 Apollo Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on February 14 before the G1 Verry Elleegant Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on February 28. Next would be the G1 Ranvet Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill on March 21 before finishing off with the  G1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on April 11.

Martin said the presence of unbeaten mare Autumn Glow meant that options are being kept open for either mare to come for the Australian Cup at Flemington in late March to potentially avoid clashing with each other.

The Apollo Stakes at Randwick is still three weeks’ away and Martin said in that time, Aeliana will have another trial next Tuesday before a possible exhibition gallop at the races before her return.

The potential autumn plan means that it is unlikely that Aeliana will get to 2400 metres or beyond as a spring or autumn four-year-old despite her comfortable ATC Derby (2400m) victory as a late three-year-old last year.

Martin said it was likely the 2026 Caulfield Cup (2400m) will be the aim for a fully-matured Aeliana next spring.

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