Chris Waller-trained Aeliana enters 2024 Thousand Guineas conversation with win in Reginald Allen Quality at Randwick

Trainer Chris Waller won the Group 1 Flight Stakes with Lady Shenandoah, who is already in the paddock along with unbeaten filly Autumn Glow. But Aeliana could prove herself to be a worthy replacement.

Aeliana thrust herself in Group 1 Thousand Guineas calculations when she surged home along the fence to salute at Royal Randwick.

Trainer Chris Waller won the Group 1 Flight Stakes with Lady Shenandoah, who is already in the paddock along with unbeaten filly Autumn Glow.

But Aeliana could prove herself to be a worthy replacement after her slashing victory in the Group 3 $250,000 Reginald Allen Quality (1600m).

• PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet’s team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW!

The maiden stakes victory came in her fourth start and Waller is confident the best is to come.

“She’s started her innings, that’s for sure,” Waller said.

“A type and I don’t think it’ll be her last one. Right from her first win here on the Kensington track, it was pretty special.

“We backed off her after that to try and have her ready for a race like this so we thought enough of it to bring her today.”

It's Aeliana along the inside in the G3 Reginald Allen for @cwallerracing and @mcacajamez!@aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/uBNYBF6BVJ

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) October 19, 2024

• What the jockeys said: 2024 The Everest Day at Royal Randwick

Aeliana was buried on the fence in a midfield position but the runs opened up on the fence in the straight.

The daughter of Castelvecchio was doing her best work late closest to the fence to edge out the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Dominetta ($3.30 fav) by a half-neck with Waller’s luckless Good Sort ($21) another half-neck away in third.

“She’ll improve off that and she did a really good job today,” jockey James McDonald said.

“She’s only had a few starts so it is all ahead of her.”

Aeliana was $26 into $11 to win the Thousand Guineas at Caulfield on November 16.

Originally published as Chris Waller-trained Aeliana enters 2024 Thousand Guineas conversation with win in Reginald Allen Quality at Randwick