Australian racing’s leading lady Via Sistina will again headline the Winx Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on Saturday, but trainer Chris Waller believes her stablemate Aeliana could soon take the mantle as his next superstar mare.
Via Sistina is the $2.30 favourite to defend her Winx crown, while Aeliana, at $7.50, faces her first test in open company following a stellar three-year-old season capped by her dominant ATC Derby triumph.
“She is the unknown,” Waller said of Aeliana.
“I think she will measure up being a multiple Group One winner. She has won a Derby, been placed behind the best horses in her three-year-old year when she hasn’t won.
“It is pretty exciting with her. She is probably next year’s queen if she keeps making the rapid rise like she has done.”
Waller admitted the challenge for Aeliana is not just stepping up to open grade but maintaining the sharpness required over shorter trips. She proved she can sprint fresh when placing behind Broadsiding in the Hobartville Stakes (1400m) in the autumn before stretching out to 2400m to thrash the colts in the Derby.
Randwick’s heavy conditions will test both mares. Aeliana has yet to race on a genuinely wet surface, while Via Sistina’s only Australian flop came on a heavy-rated track in the Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) last year.
Waller, however, believes that run was misleading.
“It’s hard to compare tracks but the one thing I don’t think she likes is a shifty track and that’s what she got in the Makybe Diva last year,” he said.
“It rained an hour before the race, it actually hailed, and it was a firm base and it was quite shifty. She didn’t like it.
“But when she is getting into the ground, which is where her English form comes in, I think she is pretty good.”
Joining Via Sistina and Aeliana in Waller’s five-strong team are Lindermann, Fangirl and ex-American mare Full Count Felicia, with all expected to take their place despite the likely heavy 10 conditions.
Punters can bet on whether Via Sistina defends her crown or Aeliana makes her mark in the Winx Stakes through the latest markets on leading Australian betting sites.
