Aeliana to line-up up against the boys in G1 Randwick Guineas

Chris Waller is no stranger to success in elite-level racing, and this Saturday, he is targeting another Group 1 triumph at Randwick with one of his standout three-year-old fillies.

Castelvecchio filly Aeliana will once again take on the colts and geldings in the $1 million Group 1 Randwick Guineas.

Runner-up in the Thousand Guineas, Aeliana has taken a slightly different campaign path compared to Waller’s other top-tier fillies, four of whom contested the Group 1 Surround Stakes last weekend, a race won by Lady Shenandoah, another member of Waller’s stable. The trainer is confident in the approach taken with Aeliana.

“The Thousand Guineas is so late she needed an extra two weeks in the paddock, so she’s a bit behind the others,” Waller said.

“It’s worked out well, but hopefully we’re not asking too much of her, because it is hard taking on the boys.”

Since the Randwick Guineas was established in its current format in 2006, Mosheen remains the only filly to have beaten the boys, claiming victory in 2012.

Aeliana resumed this preparation in the Group 2 Hobartville Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill on February 22, where she produced an impressive late run to finish third, just over a length behind winner Broadsiding and runner-up Swiftfalcon.

Her form over 1600m is solid, having won last year’s Group 3 Carbine Club Stakes against a field that included Feroce, who recently won the Australian Guineas. While the Randwick Guineas presents a tougher challenge, Waller is happy with how Aeliana has developed since the spring.

“She’s a stronger horse than she was in the spring and that’s helping me train her better,” Waller said.

“I’m not saying she can beat Broadsiding, or the second horse that ran well the other day, but she’ll be in the finish.”

Saturday’s program at Randwick also includes the Group 1 Canterbury Stakes (1300m), where Waller will likely saddle Switzerland and the recently gelded Militarize.

Other notable entries for the Canterbury Stakes include Champions Sprint winner Sunshine In Paris, Ceolwulf, Magic Time, and last year’s Randwick Guineas victor Celestial Legend.