Caulfield Cup 2025 and Cox Plate options for star filly Aeliana

 Spring ambitions are rising for Aeliana, the talented filly who soared to fame with her Group 1 Australian Derby win earlier this year.

After a luckless second in the Rosehill Guineas, the Chris Waller-trained galloper blew her rivals away in the Derby and has now returned to work ahead of a big campaign.

Star Thoroughbreds’ Denise Martin said Aeliana is thriving and the team is weighing up several potential options, including the Cox Plate.

"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.

"After that, there’s the Makybe Diva, Turnbull, Caulfield Cup, or even the Cox Plate."

Aeliana’s win in the Derby marked a special moment for Martin, who said it was rare for Star Thoroughbreds to focus on 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."

Martin’s other major success this season came with the $4.15 million sale of 2023 Coolmore Classic winner Espiona, originally bought for just $190,000.

"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," she said.

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