Champion trainer Chris Waller has learned to keep his nerves in check on the eve of a big race.

With two runners in the Cox Plate (2040m at Flemington on Saturday) – Aeliana and Birdman – Waller said he isn’t too bad these days.

“I’m not too bad, but I’ve been edgy before,” Waller said. “We’ve been to some pretty high highs, and once you’ve been there, it helps you get there and you also learn, don’t expect too much, don’t build yourself up too much and usually you come away happy.”

Waller is shooting for a seventh Cox Plate and join the legendary Tommy Smith as the greatest winning trainer in the race’s history.

It started in 2015 for Waller with Winx winning the first of her four Cox Plates while Via Sistina provided the trainer with back-to-back wins in 2024 and 2025.

Like those two winners, Aeliana is a mare and will be ridden by James McDonald shooting for his fifth straight Cox Plate success.

Waller said both his horses have had the ideal preparations for the 2040m race which this year is run at Flemington, away from its traditional home of Moonee Valley which is undergoing reconstruction.

“It’s going to be a great race, as it is every year,” Waller said. “Birdman is very fit. His fitness was found out in the last 100 metres of his race last start, but he’s come through it well and is well prepared for Saturday’s Flemington Cox Plate. Aeliana is very similar. She was beaten on the wet track last start in a solid staying test as well. She’s ready to peak. She won a Tancred after winning a Ranvet a week earlier and hopefully she can get back to those ratings that saw her dominate the staying ranks in the autumn.”

Waller said it will be interesting to see the race dynamic with a longer run to the first turn at Flemington rather than the short run at Moonee Valley.

Birdman has drawn ideally in gate one while Aeliana is out in barrier 10.

“It’s been good to read what people are saying about the race being at Flemington and the long run into the bend, compared to a short run at Moonee Valley,” Waller said. “With the speed horses drawn out wide, the three-year-olds, one has drawn wide, one has drawn well, I think they’ll roll, and I would say every horse will get a good run. You might have to be further back if you’ve got a wide draw, but I couldn’t see anything getting caught three wide and it’s Flemington, they won’t come around the bend single file, they normally pack up a bit. It will be an intriguing race.”

Consider checking out the online bookmakers for the latest Cox Plate odds.