Chris Waller has already secured a Group 1 win this year with one of his star three-year-old fillies and will be aiming for another this Saturday at Randwick.

Aeliana, a Castelvecchio filly, will take on some of Australia’s top colts and geldings in the $1million Group 1 Randwick Guineas.

The Thousand Guineas runner-up has followed a different path from Waller’s other elite fillies, with four of them competing in last Saturday’s Group 1 Surround Stakes, won by Waller’s own Lady Shenandoah. The trainer is pleased with the options available to 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 changed distance in 2006, Mosheen is the only filly to win, claiming the title in 2012.

Aeliana returned against the colts and geldings in the Group 2 Hobartville Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill on February 22, finishing third behind Broadsiding and Swiftfalcon, just over a length behind the winner.

She has already beaten some top male rivals at 1600m, including last Saturday’s Australian Guineas winner Feroce in the Group 3 Carbine Club Stakes last spring. While Waller acknowledges this weekend’s opposition is stronger, he is thrilled with Aeliana’s progress.

“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.”

The Randwick Guineas is one of two Group 1 races at Randwick on Saturday, with the Canterbury Stakes (1300m) also on the card, where Waller’s likely runners include Switzerland and the now-gelded Militarize.

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