In a spring preparation where she challenged Via Sistina on debut, finished just behind Mr Brightside next time out, and ran in a Cox Plate, Aeliana didn’t fully satisfy her trainer Chris Waller.
Although delivering some impressive efforts during races, the top trainer conceded she didn’t appear at her best.
“She ate well through the spring, her bloods were good, but she never looked well,” Waller said.
“She looked light.”
Since her on-track results weren’t affected by her look or eating habits, Waller figured she was continuing to develop.
After some rest time in the paddock, she has come back about 15kg heavier and far more appealing visually.
“I’m much happier. She’s perfect,” he said.
“She will be very hard to beat on Saturday, as we saw first-up in the Winx (Stakes) last spring. She almost beat Via (Sistina).
As long as we didn’t overtax her. That’s my only fear, but there was no sign of it. We pulled up after the Cox Plate, and she was a bit unlucky there.”
Aeliana heads a six-horse team from the stable in Saturday’s Apollo Stakes (1400m) at Randwick, joined by promising mare Autumn Glow and tough gelding Lindermann.
Those three represent the key hopes for the stable, while Waller anticipates Wootton Verni, Soul Of Spain and River Of Stars will gain from the run.
Autumn Glow leads as the odds-on favourite, followed by Aeliana and Lindermann as third and fourth in betting, with the gelding back after a strong spring where he secured three wins from five outings.
Waller cautioned bettors against overlooking Lindermann, particularly with aggressive rider Nash Rawiller riding.
“He’s pretty forward because first and second-up is his chance to beat the better ones,” Waller said.
“You’ve got Nash on, there’s always a Nash factor. He can always pull something out of his hat.”
Autumn Glow is short-priced in the market, but punters can explore the racing betting markets at Australian betting sites for value on Aeliana and Lindermann in the Apollo Stakes.
The post Aeliana the embodiment of health ahead of Apollo Stakes return first appeared on Just Horse Racing.