Sydney’s all-conquering jockey-trainer combination of James McDonald and Chris Waller equalled two of Australian racing’s most coveted records when Aeliana scored a thrilling win in the Group 1 $1 million Ranvet Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.
Aeliana gave McDonald his 129th career Group 1 win to equal the record of an Australian-based jockey held by Hall of Famer Damien Oliver.
McDonald also combined with Waller to win their 54th Group 1 race together, equalling the record set by legendary duo George Moore and Tommy Smith.
The champion jockey and the Hall of Famer trainer would claim both records outright just 35 minutes later with Autumn Boy in the Group 1 $750,000 Rosehill Guineas (2000m).
But Aeliana set up the day for McDonald and Waller although her stablemate Lindermann nearly spoiled the celebrations when he made the mare work very hard for the win.
McDonald admitted the short neck winning margin was “not how the script’s supposed to go” for his record-equalling 129th Group 1 win.
“Aeliana is just incredible, her tenacity to find the line was just superb,” McDonald said.
“She’s been building to something like that and I’ve got to give credit to the second horse because they made us work.
“Nash (Rawiller, rider of Lindermann) is a genius when it comes to race tempo. He got things on his own terms, and Damian (Lane, rider of Trinity College) was just sitting off him the whole way.
“It wasn’t ideal, that’s for sure, because he had a picnic up in front. But I was on a good horse and she deservedly won that one.”
Aeliana, the $1.60 favourite, took the length of the Rosehill straight to run down game front-runner Lindermann ($16) to win by a short neck and give Waller another Group 1 quinella.
Sir Delius ($3), ridden by Craig Williams, trailed Aeliana through the race and looked the main challenger on the turn but he could not close the gap and was beaten just over a length into third placing.
Waller, who recorded his 190th career Group 1, also conceded Aeliana was made to “fight for it” as the Slipper Day crowd roared with excitement as the stablemates staged a stirring duel.
“The crowd was awesome, that’s what racing’s all about,” Walelr said.
“These great horses being everyone together to enjoy the sport and that was a great spectacle.
“He’s (Lindermann) a good horse on his day and I think Nash controlled the race really well.
“Aeliana had to be good to win and obviously Sir Delius on our back, that gave me a bit of a scare when he came with us.
“But you could just see, they sort of broke clear of him and then it was a fight between the stablemates.
“It didn’t really matter who won but obviously for James today – it’s a big one.”
Waller and McDonald combined for their first Group 1 win together with Delectation in 2015 so for the trainer and jockey to now 54 majors in 11 years is extraordinary.
“I’m just lucky to train lots of good horses and have an association with a terrific young man,” Waller said.
Since her runaway Derby win, Aeliana had been winless this season going into the Ranvet but had been runner-up in four Group races behind the likes of Via Sistina and Autumn Glow but her Group 1 success was a popular and deserved win.
Aeliana is raced by Denise Martin’s Star Thoroughbreds and continued the leading syndicator’s success on Golden Slipper Day.
Martin’s outstanding colt Sebring won the 2008 Golden Slipper and Aeliana was her third Ranvet Stakes winner after Theseo went back-to-back in 2009-10.
Waller hasn’t ruled out backing up with Aeliana in the Group 1 $1.5 million Tancred Stakes (2400m0 at Rosehill next Saturday.
“I’m not sure about the Tancred but the distance is no problem,” Martin said.”A seven-day back-up isn’t ideal but I will see how a few others go today and then we will try to map it all out tomorrow.”
Rawiller said Lindermann “put up an amazing performance” to finish a close second.
“He picked himself up off the canvas there at the 100m and really rallied,” Rawiller said.
“I thought for a stride we could worry her out of it but she is a top mare in her own right.”
Craig Williams, rider of Sir Delius is looking forward to the $5 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Royal Randwick on April 11.
“Sir Delius is flying,” Williams said.”The winner beat us by three and a bit lengths the other day so we shortened that margin down to about a length.”He felt like he still has more racing improvement to come on and he’s right in line for the Queen Elizabeth Stakes now.”
