Champion mare Aeliana remains on course for a major spring campaign despite a barrier trial mishap that has brought the Memsie Stakes further into calculations for her first-up assignment.
The multiple Group 1 winner became caught behind the barriers before the opening heat at Warwick Farm on Tuesday, trapping a hind leg in the starting stalls and forcing her withdrawal.
Trainer Chris Waller said the early signs were encouraging, with the mare undergoing intensive treatment while the stable monitors her progress over the coming days.
“Minimal swelling and she’s sound,” Waller said.
“We, of course, gave her anti-inflammatories after it so that’s masking a little bit of swelling, and masking a little bit of pain.
“I’d say by Friday we’ll be able to say we’re in the clear. You just never know what bruising could be there, but every sign you can see so far is fantastic.”
Aeliana is currently receiving anti-inflammatory treatment along with ice hosing four times a day, and Waller remains optimistic there has been no lasting damage.
She will miss this week’s Rosehill barrier trials but is expected to trial at Randwick next Friday, after which a decision will be made on her return.
The mare had been strongly expected to resume in the Winx Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on August 22, but Waller said the additional week before the Memsie Stakes at Caulfield had significantly altered the equation.
“Where it would have been eighty-twenty before, it’s probably fifty-fifty now,” he said.
“We’re very confident we’ll still be on track.”
Aeliana shapes as one of the headline horses of the upcoming spring carnival and is already prominent in early markets for the Caulfield Cup, Melbourne Cup and Cox Plate.
Compare the latest spring carnival markets with Australia’s leading Top 10 Betting Apps.
