Australian Derby winner Aeliana is unlikely to back-up in the Group 1 Australian Oaks as ‘ring in’ Leica Lucy prepares to lead Waller assault

Trainer Chris Waller will make a call on Aeliana’s Australian Oaks prospects on Monday … but new stable addition Leica Lucy is ready to roll as she chases more Group 1 glory.

Aeliana was an ultra impressive winner of the Australian Derby. Picture: Jeremy Ng / Getty Images.

Champion trainer Chris Waller won’t completely rule out backing-up Aeliana in Saturday’s Group 1 $1 million Australian Oaks (2400m) but concedes it’s likely he will rely on a high quality “ring in” to take down boom filly Treasurethe Moment at Royal Randwick.

Aeliana produced one of the performances of the autumn on day one of The Championships with a demolition job against the boys to prevail in the Group 1 Australian Derby (2400m).

• 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!

Bookies now rate her a $4 second elect to do the Derby-Oaks double on day two this weekend behind brilliant Vinery Stud Stakes winner Treasurethe Moment ($1.70 favourite).

The Australian Oaks will see the Australian debut of talented New Zealand Oaks winner Leica Lucy ($5), a recent Waller stable acquisition.

“It might just be Leica Lucy, ‘the ring in’,” Waller said of his Australian Oaks team.

“She has settled in really well and it might just be her that runs.

“We won’t give up on Aeliana but it is unlikely. I just want to see her on Monday because I don’t think she is anywhere near her best yet.”

The Derby goes to the filly! 🤩

Aeliana destroys them in the G1 Australian Derby, and just how good is she?!@cwallerracing | @LaneDamian | @StarTbreds | @aus_turf_club | @WorldPoolpic.twitter.com/pXfg6xnL1v

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 5, 2025

• Hong Kong mission: Mr Brightside almost ready for take off

Leica Lucy has only suffered defeat once in her career in New Zealand and put together five consecutive stakes victories en route to claiming the Kiwi edition of the Oaks last month.

The smart daughter of Derryn was purchased by prominent Australian-based owner Ozzie Kheir in the lead-up to her Oaks win with the plan to send her to Waller to train.

Champion jockey James McDonald, who narrowly came up short on Romantic Warrior in Dubai in the early hours of Sunday morning, is in line to ride Leica Lucy if she ends up better Waller’s only starter.

We don't just like her, we love her! Leica Lucy wins the Oaks!
In the @AlBasti NZ Oaks from @Racing_at_RACE, it's our filly of the year, trained by @PattersonStable & ridden by @CraigGrylls
She now goes to Aus (@cwallerracing) and we'll watch her fly the flag with pride. 🇳🇿➡️🇦🇺 pic.twitter.com/sTEXlcN6ut

— Trackside NZ (@TracksideNZ) March 22, 2025

• Queen Elizabeth Stakes win would put Via Sistina ‘in the Hall Of Fame conversation’

Waller has had an unbelievable season already with three-year-old fillies with Lady Shenandoah claiming three Group 1s in the Flight Stakes, Surround Stakes and Coolmore Classic.

Boom filly Autumn Glow remains unbeaten in four starts and can add to her unbeaten record as the $1.80 favourite in the Group 2 $1 million Arrowfield 3YO Sprint (1200m) this Saturday while Lazzura was a winner of the Group 2 Phar Lap Stakes.

“There has been a couple of unlucky ones in there too and some of them are still going to get their time in the sun as well,” Waller said.

Waller could be in for a monster second day of The Championships with Via Sistina ($1.65 favourite) the horse to beat in the Group 1 $5 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) while Fangirl is the $2.50 top pick in the Group 1 $1 million Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1600m).

Originally published as Australian Derby winner Aeliana is unlikely to back-up in the Group 1 Australian Oaks as ‘ring in’ Leica Lucy prepares to lead Waller assault