Waller reconsidering Cup tilt with Aeliana
Champion trainer Chris Waller has revealed he is revisiting whether to send his star mare Aeliana (NZ) (Castelvecchio) to this year’s Gr.1 Melbourne Cup, following the release of weights on Thursday.
With the triple-Group 1 winner and natural topweight Sir Delius not being nominated for this year’s Melbourne Cup, reigning champion Half Yours has been allocated 59kg topweight for this year’s race.
Light Infantry Man has 58.5kg, while Aeliana – a three-time Group 1 winner, and Birdman have 58kg.
Horses in the Melbourne Cup have been allocated 1.5kg more to meet the requirement of a minimum 59kg topweight due to Sir Delius’ absence.
Speaking on RSN’s Correct Weight on Sunday, Waller said 58kg for Aeliana is a significant impost and he is questioning whether she can win the race with that weight.
“I’ll be honest, I couldn’t believe she got 58kg in the Melbourne Cup. I’m not whinging, but holy heck, it makes it hard for a horse like Aeliana to win a Melbourne Cup with 58kg, she’s a mare. That’s equivalent of 60kg for a colt or a gelding. Yeah, she’s a good horse, but she’s won a Derby, a Ranvet and a Tancred, and she’s got 58kg or a 60kg equivalent for a male.
“Makybe Diva, she was a pretty good horse, she won her third Melbourne Cup with 58.5kg (she was allocated 58kg). Poor old Aeliana… I just can’t get my head around it, to tell you the truth.”
Prior to the 2025 Cups, the minimum topweight was lifted from 58kg to 59kg and the minimum increased from 50kg to 51kg to ensure owners and trainers have a broad cross section of jockeys to choose from.
Waller was asked for his thoughts on the new rules.
“I’ve got multiple horses so it’s not going to affect me, but I think the owners of Aeliana deserve a chance to be running in a Melbourne Cup, like the horses before her, with a fair weight,” said Waller.
“I don’t know where we’re heading, it’s as simple as that.
“I’m not whinging, but she can’t win a Melbourne Cup with 58kg, can she?
“I don’t want to cause a debate or get political at all; all I’m saying is I’m not very happy that Aeliana has got 58kg.”
Waller said he is mindful of the toll carrying 58kg over two miles could have on Aeliana, who ran second to stablemate Autumn Glow in Saturday’s G2 Seven Sunrise Stakes (1600m) at Randwick.
“We’ve got to patch them up after the race. It breaks their heart, it’s a tough race,” he said.
Aeliana currently shares the third line of Melbourne Cup betting at $13 alongside Saturday’s G3 Naturalism Stakes winner Zahrann. Half Yours heads the market at $9, with the Joseph O’Brien-trained Defiantly next at $11.
