By Craig Kerry
Champion trainer Chris Waller said an Australian Oaks (2400m) showdown with star Victorian filly Treasurethe Moment next week was unlikely despite Aeliana’s demolition job in the ATC Derby (2400m) on Saturday at Randwick.
A $2.20 favourite, Aeliana raced just off the leaders under Damian Lane before cruising to the front early in the straight and putting her rivals to the sword by more than five lengths.
Aeliana streaks away to win the ATC Derby.Credit: Getty Images
She became the first filly to win the Derby in 14 years.
Treasurethe Moment is a short-priced favourite to add the Oaks to her group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes win. The ease of Aeliana’s win prompted the question of a clash between the pair.
Waller said Aeliana was likely to go for a spell, but he wasn’t ruling out what would be a mouth-watering duel.
“We won’t give up on her, but it’s unlikely,” Waller said. “I just want to see her Monday because I don’t think she’s anywhere near her best.”
Chris Waller at Randwick on Saturday.Credit: Racing Photos via Getty Images
The victory gave Waller and Lane a staying fillies double on the day after Belle Detelle won the group 3 Adrian Knox Stakes (2000m).
It was a breakthrough group 1 win for Aeliana, which was narrowly beaten in the Rosehill Guineas last start and was also close in the 1000 Guineas at Caulfield in the spring.
“It was a great performance and all credit to her, Waller said.
“She’s had a couple of near misses in group 1s, but she’s got her own, and she’s got it in good style.”
Mark Zahra and Vinrock proved too good on Saturday.Credit: Getty Images
Vinrock delivers for Laurie
Matt Laurie thought Vinrock was a Sires Produce Stakes (1400m) standard horse in Sydney “straight after I rode him for the first time following being broken in”.
The I Am Invincible colt proved the Victorian trainer right with a surging run down the inside on Saturday at Randwick to add the race to his Victorian Sires victory and give Laurie a fifth group 1 success.
Jockey Mark Zahra placed Vinrock behind leader Bellazaine before going for the inside passage as most rivals came down the outside.
The economic run helped Vinrock score a half-neck win over Ciaron Maher-trained State Visit, with David Atkins’ Buffalo a close third.
It was a satisfying win for Laurie, who paid $300,000 for Vinrock at the Melbourne Inglis Premier Sales. It came a week after star Yulong-bred and owned filly Treasurethe Moment won the group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes for Laurie.
“Lost for words,” Laurie said.
“Incredible. Great performance from the horse. Last race they really got out wide and they were smacking the line, I was a bit worried about the inside draw but he’s tough as nails. And three from three, a Vinny [I Am Invincible] colt, I’m told that it’s his first two-year-old group 1 winner, it’s incredible.”
He said the group 1 Champagne Stakes (1600m) in two weeks was the next goal for Vinrock.
Aaron Bullock gets to work on Know Thyself on day one of The Championships.Credit: Getty Images
Bullock scores greatest win
Top bush jockey Aaron Bullock thanked Arrowfield for the opportunity and his family for inspiration after driving Know Thyself to a thrilling win in the $1 million Country Championships final.
Bullock, the Australian premiership winner in 2022-23 who has often battled to keep his weight down, was allowed to ride the Paul Messara and Leah Gavranich four-year-old a half-kilogram over at 56.5kg.
The jockey known as “The Bull” pushed the $5 chance, which won a wildcard to qualify, to a nose victory over Lisztomania, giving Bullock the biggest victory of his career.
“I wouldn’t be here riding these horses if it wasn’t for John and Paul [Messara], they have confidence in me, and they let me come ride him a half over,” Bullock said.
Mare serves cup warning
“If she learns to jump on terms and get going, good luck beating her,” was the warning from jockey Tim Clark after Alalcance repeated her Manion Cup demolition in the group 2 Chairman’s Quality (2600m) on Saturday to firm into a dominant favourite for the group 1 Sydney Cup (3200m) next week.
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained import made it three from three this preparation with another front-running masterclass, winning by two and a half lengths.
She firmed from $4.50 to $2.50 with TAB for the Sydney Cup, where she has 52 kilograms. The winner of the Chairman’s Quality is exempt from penalty for the Cup.
“I was open to the idea of taking a sit on her today, especially early, I wasn’t bustling her,” Clark said.
“She was working through to be in a forward position but a couple crossed, and I was going to be happy there. But they seemed to go a bit slow and over the crossing I said ‘I’ll take it from here Willo [Craig Williams on El Jasor]’.”
Golden goal for Evaporate
The Hayes brothers will aim for the $10 million Golden Eagle at Rosehill in the spring with Evaporate after his easy win in the group 3 Carbine Club Stakes (1600m) for three-year-olds.
The gelding, a $3.20 (Sportsbet) second favourite behind Swiftfalcon ($1.75), took over from leader Shangri La Spring at the 300m and raced away. Swiftfalcon was again caught too far back and raced home to finish second, just over two lengths away.
Ben Hayes said Evaporate, which was second in The Kiwi slot race – the richest event for three-year-olds in the Southern Hemisphere – last start, would be spelled and likely have the Golden Eagle – the richest for four-year-olds – as his next goal.
Belle Detelle was too good in the Adrian Knox Stakes on Saturday.Credit: Getty Images
Verry nice prospect
Trainer Chris Waller appeared to be leaning towards Oaks targets interstate with Belle Detelle after the close connection to champion Verry Elleegant’s win in the group 3 Adrian Knox Stakes (2000m) at Randwick.
Belle Detelle, a three-quarter sister in blood to the Melbourne Cup champion and 11-time group 1 winner, who died in February last year when foaling, beat Polymnia by a neck.
Nick Bishara, a part-owner and the original trainer of Verry Elleegant, is the main owner of Belle Detelle.
“It was just a matter of having confidence in her and knowing when she got to 2000m her pedigree would start to kick in, and it certainly did,” Waller said.
Waller did not rule out backing Belle Detelle up next week in the Australian Oaks.
Newgate look to fast return
Newgate Stud boss Henry Field was eyeing the group 1 Moir Stakes (1000m) with North England first-up in the spring after he held off King Of Pop and Beskar to win the group 3 Kindergarten Stakes (1100m) at Randwick.
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Farnan colt, sixth in the Golden Slipper after a disrupted preparation, bounced back with a strong front-running effort to win by a half-neck and will now be spelled.
“At this stage of his career, North England is dynamite at 1100, but we’re hoping he can run a strong 1200 as a three-year-old,” Field said.
“He’s a Coolmore Stud hope, but I wouldn’t be totally against targeting the Moir first-up as a three-year-old. They say there’s no horse in the yard that can go toe to toe with him in a 1000m piece of work.”
A protest from third-placed Beskar (Ben Melham) against runner-up King Of Pop (Zac Lloyd) for causing interference in the straight was dismissed, although Lloyd was reprimanded.
