With confirmation this week that Autumn Glow will target the Queen Elizabeth Stakes, stablemate Aeliana is set to back up at Rosehill in a Tancred Stakes showdown with defending titleholder Dubai Honour.
One of three Group 1 winners for Chris Waller and James Mcdonald on Golden Slipper Day, Aeliana has never raced on consecutive Saturdays, while the Tancred Stakes will also mark the first time she has stretched to 2400m since thumping her ATC Australian Derby rivals 12 months ago.
She has been installed an emphatic $1.65 favourite, ahead of Dubai Honour at $4.20, while five of her Waller-trained stablemates will also take their place in the feature, including improving stayer Soul Of Spain.
If one of Aeliana’s barnmates was to spring an upset, Waller’s assistant trainer, Charlie Duckworth, suggested the last start Sky High Stakes runner-up could be the one.
“I think he’s going to be hard to beat,” Duckworth said.
“Aeliana is on the back-up. It was a tough, testing run (in the Ranvet Stakes).
“She’s got the form and everything, but a mile-and-a-half at three-year-old grade against a mile-and-a-half against these older, tougher horses is a different ball game.
“River Of Stars will improve up to 2400 metres, and you will see the same from Valiant King. He jumps out of the ground when he gets to 2400 metres as well, so we’ve got some very good hopes.”
Three mares have won the Tancred Stakes (2400m) in the past 10 years, Verry Elleegant in 2020 the most recent.
McDonald again has the ride on Aeliana, while the champion hoop also teams up with Waller in the day’s other Group 1 when former New Zealander Ohope Wins makes her Sydney debut for the leading stable in the Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m).