Denise Martin’s Star Thoroughbreds had much racetrack excitement and financial reward from Group I winning mare Invincibella and the familiar purple and white stars were carried to victory at Randwick on Wednesday by a three year-old Castelvecchio filly that is closely related to the $3million earner.
Trained by Chris Waller as was Invincibella, Aeliana made her debut with a late closing fourth at Hawkesbury over 1000m on August 1 and appreciated a slightly longer trip for this assignment.
Allowed to settle back in the field by Jason Collett, Aeliana unwound a big finish when angled into the better ground out wide and she swept to the lead to win the 1150m maiden by a length and a half.
Aeliana is a filly with considerable promise although today’s win was tinged with sadness for connections.
“She relished the ground and it was a brilliant win. We lost one of the partners last week Judy Hudson, which was very sad and her husband Brent is here today, so she might have had a little bit of extra help,” Chris Waller said.
“It as a good first up run at Hawkesbury and she’s followed it up with an encouraging win today.
“It will be interesting to see where she ends up and she should get over further being by Castelvecchio, who was a very good horse. She’s got a bright future.”
A $180,000 Karaka Book 1 purchase for Star Thoroughbreds from the Rich Hill Stud draft, Aeliana has a pedigree that suggests longer distances will be within her scope as she matures with her pedigree featuring an intriguing double cross of both Sadler’s Wells and Zabeel.
She is the first winner for Temolie, a half-sister by Star Witness to Group I winner Invincibella, Group III winner Secret Blaze and stake-winner Extreme Warrior, who stands at Rosemont Stud in Victoria.
Temolie was bought by Rich Hill Stud at the 2021 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale for $200,000 in foal to Castelvecchio with Aeliana the result of the mating. Temolie has produced two fillies for Rich Hill Stud by their champion sire Proisir including a yearling that sold at K1 this year for $250,000 to Ciaron Maher / TFI and is back in foal to him again.
Aeliana is the third winner and first this season for Dundeel’s dual Group I winning son Castelvecchio, who stands at Arrowfield at a fee of $22,000.
