During a spring campaign in which she pushed Via Sistina first-up, beat all bar Mr Brightside second-up, and contested a Cox Plate, Aeliana never quite pleased trainer Chris Waller.
While she put in some exciting performances on the track, the champion horseman admitted she never looked the part.
“She ate well through the spring, her bloods were good, but she never looked well,” Waller said.
“She looked light.”
The fact Aeliana’s appearance was having no bearing on her appetite or her form led Waller to the conclusion she was still growing.
With the benefit of time and a break in the paddock, she has returned around 15kg heavier, and much more pleasing to the eye.
“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 will be among a six-strong contingent for the stable in Saturday’s Apollo Stakes (1400m) at Randwick, along with exciting mare Autumn Glow, and hardy gelding Lindermann.
That trio is considered the stable’s main chances, with Waller expecting Wootton Verni, Soul Of Spain and River Of Stars to all benefit from the hit-out.
Autumn Glow is an odds-on favourite with Aeliana and Lindermann third and fourth market picks respectively, the latter returning from one of his best campaigns in the spring when he won three of his five starts.
Waller warned punters not to underestimate Lindermann, especially with bold jockey Nash Rawiller on board.
“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.”
