Aeliana Australian Oaks decision Tuesday, but start unlikely

Chris Waller will wait until Tuesday morning to finalise his ATC Australian Oaks team, but it is unlikely runaway ATC Australian Derby winner Aeliana will contest the 2400-metre Group 1.

The champion trainer reported from the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale on Monday morning that the daughter of Castelvecchio had come through her 5-1/4-length Derby romp in fine style, but her current physical condition was only one of the factors in the decision.

Aeliana’s presence would set up the clash of the carnival with Treasurethe Moment, and victory would enhance her chances of being installed favourite for the Champion 3YO Filly award, but Waller said even greater honours could be afoot for the Star Thoroughbreds-raced filly.

“Aeliana has had a pretty busy three-year-old year and she wasn’t a big, robust filly in the spring, and did an amazing job, and she’s not much bigger now, but she will be bigger and stronger in the spring as a four-year-old,” Waller said.

“I want to have a look at the ratings of the race, how she lines up against the favourite and at what cost.

“She’s got nothing more to prove really, other than the honours of being the 3YO Filly of the Year if she was to beat Treasurethe Moment.

“I’m not really one to be chasing those types of things when you can get it further down the track.”

Aeliana raced to the head of Caulfield Cup markets after becoming the first filly in 14 years to win the ATC Derby, while she is second favourite for the Melbourne Cup.

She was not Waller’s only filly to win at Randwick last Saturday, with Belle Detelle claiming the Group 3 Adrian Knox Stakes (2000m), and Waller said while her campaign is not over, the close relation to Verry Elleegant may be directed elsewhere.

“I think she’s on an upward spiral and I loved the way she finished off over 2000 metres the other day,” Waller said of the daughter of Zed, who is out of a half-sister to his Melbourne Cup winner.

“I have great confidence that she’ll get a strong 2400 metres and improve, but it’s a long way to go when you’re taking on a champion filly, so I’m leaning towards backing off and going to Queensland.”

The $700,000 Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2200m) will be run at Eagle Farm on June 7.

Waller’s most probable starter in the ATC Oaks is last-start New Zealand Oaks winner Leica Lucy.

The daughter of Derryn, who has won her past five starts, joined Waller after the March 22 Oaks win and he wants to see how she works on Tuesday before committing to a start.

“She needs to convince me that she’s working well enough because she’s had a long prep as well,” he said.

 

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