Exciting filly Aeliana, winner of the Australian Derby, is being considered for several major targets this spring, including a potential start in the prestigious Cox Plate.
The Chris Waller-trained rising four-year-old was one of the highlights of the Sydney autumn carnival, narrowly beaten in the Rosehill Guineas before storming to a dominant Derby victory by over five lengths.
Denise Martin of Star Thoroughbreds, who syndicated the filly, said they were letting Waller determine the spring plan, but excitement is building around what Aeliana could achieve in the months ahead.
“Chris has reported that she has returned extremely well. She has strengthened and matured and developed nicely,” Martin said.
“Her spring program is nowhere near finalised but she will most likely barrier trial at the end of July and have a second barrier trial a couple of weeks later.
“Then we will most likely look at a couple of options towards the end of August. The Winx Stakes and the Memsie Stakes.
“But after that there are options such as the Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington, the Turnbull Stakes, the Caulfield Cup and even the Cox Plate.”
Martin described Aeliana’s rise as “like a rose opening” and said it was especially meaningful to win a Derby as their stable typically doesn’t chase staying types at the sales.
“We were elated because I couldn’t have believed I would have purchased a Derby winner,” Martin said.
“We would normally buy horses that are sprinter-milers or maybe 2000-metre horses.
“I said to Chris (Waller) the Monday after the Derby – the Caulfield Cup? And he said, ‘we’ll see’.
“Wherever he goes with this horse, I’m going.”
Winning the Derby was the biggest thrill for Martin this season, but it was matched off the track when 2023 Coolmore Classic winner Espiona was sold for $4.15 million last July. Martin had purchased her for $190,000 before the mare earned nearly $3.3 million on the track.
“We had a group of her owners together in Sydney watching it happen. We had hoped she might fetch between $3 and $3.5 million and once we got to $4 million on the screen, there was silence in the room. It was a great result,” Martin said.
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