Australia’s premier Sydney jockey-trainer alliance, James McDonald and Chris Waller, replicated two of racing’s most esteemed records via Aeliana’s edge-of-the-seat triumph in the Group 1 $1 million Ranvet Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.
The win elevated McDonald to 129 Group 1 career strikes, equalling Damien Oliver’s record as an Australia-domiciled jockey and Hall of Famer.
Together with Waller, it was their 54th Group 1 partnership success, on par with the celebrated George Moore-Tommy Smith combination.
The record-holding jockey and trainer duo eclipsed both feats comprehensively 35 minutes later thanks to Autumn Boy’s win in the Group 1 $750,000 Rosehill Guineas (2000m).
Aeliana ignited McDonald and Waller’s stellar afternoon, but not before stablemate Lindermann compelled the mare into a fierce effort that almost overshadowed the highlights.
McDonald owned up that the short neck decision was “not how the script’s supposed to go” for landing his record-matching 129th Group 1.
“Aeliana is just incredible, her tenacity to find the line was just superb,” McDonald said.
“She’s been building to something like that and I’ve got to give credit to the second horse because they made us work.
“Nash (Rawiller, rider of Lindermann) is a genius when it comes to race tempo. He got things on his own terms, and Damian (Lane, rider of Trinity College) was just sitting off him the whole way.
“It wasn’t ideal, that’s for sure, because he had a picnic up in front. But I was on a good horse and she deservedly won that one.”
The heavily backed $1.60 pick Aeliana chased relentlessly down the Rosehill straight to pip battling leader Lindermann ($16) by a short neck, gifting Waller another Group 1 1-2.
Craig Williams on Sir Delius ($3) shadowed Aeliana for the journey and posed as the biggest rival heading into the straight, but stayed more than a length away in third.
Waller reached 190 Group 1 wins career-wise, recognising Aeliana earned her “fight for it” success as the Slipper Day masses bellowed during the stable duel.
“The crowd was awesome, that’s what racing’s all about,” Waller said.
“These great horses being everyone together to enjoy the sport and that was a great spectacle.
“He’s (Lindermann) a good horse on his day and I think Nash controlled the race really well.
“Aeliana had to be good to win and obviously Sir Delius on our back, that gave me a bit of a scare when he came with us.
“But you could just see, they sort of broke clear of him and then it was a fight between the stablemates.
“It didn’t really matter who won but obviously for James today – it’s a big one.”
Waller and McDonald kicked off their Group 1 tally with Delectation in 2015, so accumulating 54 across 11 years is exceptional.
“I’m just lucky to train lots of good horses and have an association with a terrific young man,” Waller said.
After her Derby demolition, Aeliana had lacked a victory this season prior to the Ranvet, with four Group runner-up finishes versus horses such as Via Sistina and Autumn Glow; the top-level win was popular and earned.
Star Thoroughbreds, Denise Martin’s outfit, races Aeliana and advanced their Golden Slipper Day prowess.
Sebring, Martin’s ace colt, owned the 2008 Golden Slipper, positioning Aeliana as her third Ranvet Stakes scorer after Theseo’s 2009-10 repeat.
No decision yet from Waller on Aeliana contesting the Group 1 $1.5 million Tancred Stakes (2400m) back at Rosehill next Saturday.
“I’m not sure about the Tancred but the distance is no problem,” Martin said.”A seven-day back-up isn’t ideal but I will see how a few others go today and then we will try to map it all out tomorrow.”
Lindermann mounted “an amazing performance” to claim close second, per Rawiller.
“He picked himself up off the canvas there at the 100m and really rallied,” Rawiller said.
“I thought for a stride we could worry her out of it but she is a top mare in her own right.”
Craig Williams steering Sir Delius plans for the $5 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Royal Randwick on April 11.
“Sir Delius is flying,” Williams said.”The winner beat us by three and a bit lengths the other day so we shortened that margin down to about a length.”He felt like he still has more racing improvement to come on and he’s right in line for the Queen Elizabeth Stakes now.”
Head to sports betting platforms for the latest betting markets for the race on Ranvet Stakes.
