In the spring, it was Via Sistina (Fastnet Rock). This campaign, it has been Autumn Glow (The Autumn Sun).
Aeliana (NZ) (Castelvecchio) has been in the shadow of two superstar stablemates for most of her past six starts but at Rosehill on Saturday, the mare gets her time to shine in the Ranvet Stakes (2000m).
Not only will she be chasing her first success since thumping her ATC Australian Derby rivals 12 months ago, she is also shaping as the horse to help James McDonald equal Damien Oliver’s Australian record 129 Group 1 wins.
After claiming last weekend’s Coolmore Classic aboard Lazzura (Snitzel), McDonald needs one more major to draw level with the now-retired Oliver, and Aeliana will be the first of his five Group 1 rides at Rosehill.
Trainer Chris Waller is confident the mare can deliver for the champion hoop, and so are punters who have kept her a solid $1.65 favourite.
“She has come back stronger, and her first two runs have been fantastic,” Waller said.
“She’s got the best form heading into a Ranvet.
“This time last year, she ran second by a nostril on the same day in the Rosehill Guineas to Broadsiding (Too Darn Hot) and came out with an emphatic Derby win.
“She is where she needs to be.”
Aeliana is among an outstanding book of five Group 1 rides for McDonald on Saturday, all of them for Sydney’s reigning premier trainer.
If the mare can be the source of his record-equalling win, Rosehill Guineas favourite Autumn Boy (The Autumn Sun) will be McDonald’s first chance to break Oliver’s mark, followed by unbeaten mare Autumn Glow in the George Ryder Stakes (1500m).
His other Group 1 rides, Fireball (Snitzel) in the Golden Slipper (1200m) and Generosity (Divine Prophet) in the Galaxy (1100m), will need to spring upsets with both at double-figure odds.
One of Aeliana’s biggest stumbling blocks could be stablemate Lindermann (Lonhro) ($9), who has two wins and two placings from four starts over the Rosehill 2000-metre circuit.
After an encouraging first-up third, the gelding performed below par in the Verry Elleegant Stakes (1600m) last start, but Waller said he had bounced back and was expected to run his usual competitive race.
“He’s fine. He’s had an ECG and everything is normal so he will definitely be there,” Waller said.
Trinity College (Dubawi) is the outsider of the stable’s trio, but he is a Group 3 winner at the distance overseas, and Waller reports his work has been strong since his Australian debut last month.