Castelvecchio Filly Too Good in G3 Carbine Club

Tara Madgwick - Saturday November 2

Chris Waller and James McDonald kicked off the Flemington Melbourne Cup Carnival with a dazzling  victory in the Group III VRC Carbine Club Stakes (1600m) for progressive Castelvecchio filly Aeliana.

Aeliana cruises home alone - image Grant Courtney

Denise Martin’s Star Thoroughbreds had much racetrack excitement and financial reward from the Waller trained Group I winning mare Invincibella and the familiar purple and white stars are carried by Aeliana, who is closely related to the $3million earner.

Advertisement

Aeliana was coming off a last start win in the Group III ATC Reginald Allen Stakes (1400m) at Randwick and franked the strength of that form when powering away from her rivals to win by a commanding three and a half lengths.

Winn

ing the Reginald Allen and then the Carbine Club Stakes is the early path followed by another Waller stable star in Fangirl, so there will no doubt be high hopes for what Aeliana can achieve as her career unfolds.

“Brilliant performance,” McDonald said. “She’s a promising filly. She executed well and came with a well-timed run, and she was too good.

“She actually sprung the lids beautifully, so she could have easily taken up a more prominent position. But I took her back and then chimed in after turning for home, and she was way too good.

“I think she’s a very good filly. She presented like a winner. I saw the favourite (Feroce) get a perfect spot with cover, but he was coming off a peak performance and probably didn’t run as well as he could, but my filly’s been on an upward spiral. I don’t think it would’ve mattered where I was in the race.”

Aeliana will be given a crack at G1 level for her next start in the MRC Thousand Guineas (!600m).

She’s a talented filly,” Waller said.

“She won well in Sydney last start, and she’s brought that Sydney form to Melbourne.

“The Thousand Guineas is a Group One for her own sex. She’s beaten the boys today, so she’ll go back to the girls next start. It's all part of a process to try and get a horse up in the grade each time they race, and she's made that right step forward today.”

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.

Aeliana has the overall record of three wins from five starts with prizemoney topping $470,000.

Aeliana and her owners celebrate - image Grant Courtney

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 continues the hot run for Dundeel’s dual Group I winning son Castelvecchio, who stands at Arrowfield at a fee of $22,000.

Advertisment

Race Result - Channel 9 Carbine Club Stakes Gr3 1600m

Flemington Track: Good(4) Time: 1:36.41
1
Aeliana
- 3f Castelvecchio (AUS) x Temolie (AUS) (Star Witness (AUS))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: J B Mc Donald 56
NZB Karaka Book 1 $180,000
Seller: Rich Hill Stud
Buyer: Star Thoroughbreds
2
3.5
Another Prophet
- 3f Brazen Beau (AUS) x Set To Skelter (AUS) (Reset (AUS))
Tnr: C Maher Rdr: Ethan Brown 55
3
4.3
Feroce
- 3g Super Seth (AUS) x Corinthia (NZ) (O'reilly (NZ))
Tnr: Dominic Sutton Rdr: W Egan 57
NZB Ready To Run Sale $160,000
Seller: Kilgravin Lodge
Buyer: McKeever Bloodstock Ltd/ Sutton Racing
4
5.8
Stylish Secret
- 3g Sweet Orange (USA) x Scarlet's Secret (NZ) (Savabeel (AUS))
Tnr: Mick Nolan Rdr: L Nolen 57
5
6.5
King Of Enterprise
- 3g Impending (AUS) x High Vogue (IRE) (High Chaparral (IRE))
Tnr: T Busuttin & N Young Rdr: J Bowman 57
6
8
Canara
- 3f I Am Invincible (AUS) x Karavali (NZ) (Nadeem (AUS))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: B Shinn 55
7
12
Acta Non Verba
- 3c Blue Point (IRE) x Memento (AUS) (Your Song (AUS))
Tnr: D T O'Brien Rdr: Damian Lane 57
More Reading...
Aussie Golden Eagle Form Delivers Royal Ascot G1 Finale
There were a couple of Aussie elements to the brilliant victory of Lazzat in the Group I Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (6f) at Royal Ascot overnight as he came to our shores last year and very nearly won the $10million Golden Eagle.
Castelvecchio Filly Wins G3 Reginald Allen
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 Saturday in the Group III ATC Reginald Allen Stakes (1400m) by a three year-old Castelvecchio filly that is closely related to the $3million earner.
One to Watch – Cranbourne
Second in the Group III VRC Maribyrnong Plate last year to Tycoon Star, this Cosmic Force colt made light work of a maiden at Cranbourne on Sunday when bolting away to win as he pleased.
Rich Hill Stud Celebrate Their Derby Winning Filly
Rich Hill Stud principal John Thompson is no stranger to success on Australia’s biggest stage, but even he watched in awe as the filly he co-bred in Aeliana stormed away with Saturday’s $2 million Gr.1 Australian Derby (2400m).
Sires With Winners - Saturday June 21
Here is the full list of 101 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Sires With Winners - Sunday June 22
Here is the full list of 76 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Royal Ascot Day 5 – Runaway, Rising Empire and My Best Friend
After five spectacular days of racing, Royal Ascot is over with the finale overnight producing high drama with a runaway G1 winner, the rise of a racing empire and the first stakes horse for St Mark’s Basilica.
Highview Makes Welcome Return to Weanling Sale
Many of the vendors at this month’s NZB National Weanling Sale are familiar faces who are renowned for their quality drafts at this sale every year, but the 2025 edition also sees an old friend being welcomed back to the fold.
Aeliana Continues Kiwi Bred Australian Derby Tradition
New Zealand-bred Castelvecchio filly Aeliana secured a special place in the 164-year history of the Gr.1 Australian Derby (2400m) with a stunning five-length blitz in the A$2 million classic at Randwick on Saturday.
Three on the Trot for Zousain 3YO
The Paul Shailer stable has been flying over the winter carnival and one of the stable stars has been Zousain gelding Mister Bianco, who made it three wins in succession when taking out the $150,000 Schweppes TL Cooney (1350m) at Ipswich on Saturday.