Aeliana (NZ) Aces Black-Type Test

Highly rated Karaka graduate Aeliana (NZ) (Castelvecchio) took a big step up in class on Saturday and passed it with flying colours, capturing the A$250,000 Group Three Bisley Workwear Reginald Allen Quality (1400m) at Randwick.

Star Thoroughbreds paid $180,000 to buy Aeliana from the Book 1 draft of co-breeders Rich Hill Stud alongside Nearco Stud at Karaka 2023. The promising filly’s four-start career has now produced two wins and A$184,250 in prize-money, with the prospect of much more in store.

“She’s started her innings, that’s for sure,” trainer Chris Waller said on Saturday. “Black type, and I don’t think it will be her last one.

“We’ve liked her right from her first win here on the Kensington track, which was pretty special. We backed off her after that to try and have her ready for a race like this, so we thought enough of it to bring her here today. We booked James McDonald to ride, which is another pointer of what we think of her.”

Aeliana began her career with a fourth placing at Hawkesbury on August 1, then won on the Kensington track at Randwick later that month. Her third start produced a sixth at Warwick Farm on September 4, and then Waller set his sights on the Reginald Allen six weeks later. It was a significant class rise and real test for Aeliana, but she proved that she was right up to the task.

Ridden by James McDonald, Aeliana settled in seventh place before bursting through an opening near the rail in the straight. She swept through on the inside of the leaders and edged them out in a tight finish, winning by a half-neck.

“It was a pretty competitive race and she came into it fresh,” McDonald said. “She’ll improve off that and she did a really good job today. She’s only had a few starts, so it’s all ahead of her.”

Rich Hill Stud offered a Proisir half-sister to Aeliana during Book 1 of Karaka 2024 earlier this year. She was bought by Ciaron Maher Bloodstock and TFI for $250,000.