Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Trained by champion trainer Chris Waller, Aeliana (Castelvecchio) produced a scintillating turn of foot from well back in the field to dive through along the inside under the urgings of James McDonald and claim her first black type victory at just start number four.
The Reginald Allen Quality is among several races recently elevated in status by Racing Australia, having been upgraded to Group 3. However, these upgrades are still pending official ratification.
“I thought it was a fantastic performance and a wonderful ride by James McDonald and an excellent result for the owners,” Star Thoroughbreds owner Denise Martin said.
“I guess when you get to stakes level for the first time you are not 100 per cent that the filly will reach it, but she displayed talent from the outset with a really good win at Randwick-Kensington.
“Straight away Chris (Waller) said I think she has a future.
“I noted that James said in the post-race interview that she is still quite fine, which she is, and Chris wasn’t certain that she would reach this level this preparation.
“I see her as a high quality later 3-year-old in the Autumn and the fact that she has won a Group 3 early in her career is a huge bonus for everyone.
“I see her (Aeliana) as a high quality later 3-year-old in the Autumn and the fact that she has won a Group 3 early in her career is a huge bonus for everyone.” - Denise Martin
“I didn’t expect her to win, I must say, but I thought she was a good top three or four chance as was our other filly Canara who ran a huge race sitting wide the trip.”
Aeliana is out of Temolie (Star Witness), a half-sister to Group 1 winner Invincibella (I Am Invincible) and another product of the incredible partnership between Star Thoroughbreds and Chris Waller Racing that has produced stars of the turf over several years including Foxplay (Foxwedge), D’Argento, Fiesta (I Am Invincible) Espiona (Extreme Choice) and more recently Olentia (Zoustar). Temolie is also a half-sister to Listed Gothic S. winner Extreme Flight (Extreme Choice), and Group 3 winner Secret Blaze (Sizzling).
Aeliana was purchased for NZ$180,000 at the 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Sale by Star Thoroughbreds, with Martin indicating it was the close family ties with her Star $3 million-earning mare Invincibella that made her a must have.
Aeliana as a yearling | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
“I wasn’t at the sale, but I received a phone call from renowned yearling selector Guy Mulcaster and Chris (Waller) saying there was a very close relation to Invincibella there,” Martin said, “And before they even told me what she was by I said, ‘Yes please!’
“I was talking to an owner yesterday and he said you must start to table, for reporting purposes, the quality of mares we have had over the years from Group 1 winner Foxplay to Group 1 winner Invincibella and Espiona. We also have Olentia next week who will run in the $2 million Invitation.
“This relation to Invincibella is hopefully our next rising star.”
Denise Martin, with Blake Shinn and Chris Waller
Castelvecchio on the rise
Aeliana’s sire Castelvecchio is a stallion who appears to be really hitting his straps. The future looks bright for the son of Dundeel (NZ) who has already produced three stakes performers in his first 3-year-old crop. The first of which is the Philip Stokes-trained Comanche Miss (Castelvecchio), which ran second in the Listed Exford Plate (1400 metres) at Flemington in late September. The other is the promising Anthony Cummings-trained colt El Castello (Castelvecchio) which is currently equal favourite for the G1 Spring Champion S. (2000 metres) after claiming the G3 Gloaming S. (1800 metres) at Rosehill last week.
Castelvecchio | Standing at Arrowfield Stud
Martin indicated she was not at all surprised by the success Castelvecchio was having in the breeding barn after witnessing his talent first hand early in his racing career.
“I know Castelvecchio well,” Martin said, “We had a very talented 2-year-old called Accession and we thought he was a great chance in the $2 million Inglis Millennium.
“With Hugh Bowman aboard, Accession charged to the lead at about the furlong, and I thought, ‘Wonderful, we are going to win a $2 million race with a 2-year-old!’ and then this horse with the white colours, the red circle and green cap came hurtling down the outside and I said to some of the owners with me, ‘What is this?!’, and they said ‘Castelvecchio by Dundeel,’ and I said, ‘Imagine a Dundeel 2-year-old winning in this fashion!’ So, I’ve had a love, hate relationship with him a long time before now. But he was a fantastic racehorse and he is doing a super job at Arrowfield. I was really delighted to get a hold of this filly considering her pedigree.”
“I’ve had a love, hate relationship with him (Castelvecchio) a long time before now. But he was a fantastic racehorse and he is doing a super job at Arrowfield.” - Denise Martin
Despite showing enough precocity at two to win the Inglis Millennium (1200 metres) and the G1 Champagne S. (1600 metres), it is at three years old that Castelvecchio really flourished with victory in the G1 Rosehill Guineas (2000 metres) and a runner-up performance in the WS Cox Plate (2050 metres) behind Lys Gracieux (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) and defeating Te Akau Shark (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}) so, it is no wonder his progeny appear to be getting better with age.
Best is yet to come
“This filly will continue to get better with time,” Martin said. “Clearly, she will get a trip. I think Chris feels the same way; whether she will get 2000 metres, I’m not sure but you’d definitely imagine she will run a mile.
“It’s a bit early to say how far this filly will go, she certainly needs to develop a bit more but any horse that wins a Group 3 at their fourth start has a future. Chris seems to certainly think she has more Group wins in store, how many and at what level? Ask me in eight or nine months.”
Aeliana | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
All going to plan, Aeliana will now be sent south for the G3 Carbine Club S. (1600 metres) at Flemington during Melbourne Cup week.
Castelvecchio stands at Arrowfield Stud at a fee of $22,000.
