Chris Waller‘s outstanding filly Aeliana made history on The Championships Day 1 beating home the colts and geldings by a runaway margin to salute for the favourite backers in the 2025 Australian Derby results.
The progressive daughter of Castelvecchio continued her excellent record at Royal Randwick improving on her devastatingly close second to Broadsiding in the Rosehill Guineas when powering home over the mile and a half to claim a dramatic victory in the Group 1 $2 million Australian Derby (2400m).
Despite Shamrocker (2011) being the last ATC Derby winning filly, the punters were quick to take Aeliana who firmed into outright $2.25 favouritism by time of jump.
The money proved to be spot on as she blitzed by boys with ease relishing the step up in distance to hand Waller back-to-back wins in the classic following his 2024 victory with Riff Rocket.
In her first go at the 2400m, Aeliana ($2.25F) was ridden to her emphatic victory by Damain Lane who came aboard in place of Jason Collett for the filly’s maiden elite level success after a few Group 1 near misses.
“It was a great performance and all credit to her,” winning trainer Waller told Sky Thoroughbred Central.
“She’s had a couple of near misses in Group 1s but she’s got her own, and she’s got it in good style.”
Lane had the filly poised perfectly second behind the front running Plymouth as they turned for home in the Derby.
She strode up boldly on the outside at the top of the straight, quickly taking the lead at the 300m before striding well clear to destroy them in the Derby with 5.16 lengths to spare over the second best, Firm Agreement ($21), who was on the quick back-up off a second in Tuesday’s Group 2 Tulloch Stakes.
“She was extraordinary. She left the barriers well, just travelled great from the outset and felt a winner a long way out,” winning rider Lane said.
In third was Ciaron Maher‘s Too Darn Hot gelding Shanwah ($10) off his two-length winning lead-up in The Valley’s Group 2 Alister Clark Stakes.
Fourth up and fit, Aeliana had earlier run top four in not only the Rosehill Guineas but also the Group 2 Hobartville (3rd) and Group 1 Randwick Guineas (4th) against her male counterparts giving Waller the confidence she could salute in the big one today.
“We did it from the first one, the Randwick Guineas and she proved there that she was pretty special,” he said.
“It’s just mapped out perfectly, really. Every two or three weeks there’s been a race for her.
“And yeah, we’ve got some good fillies in the fillies’ races, so it just seemed logical.
“But when she was brave in the Randwick Guineas, the Rosehill Guineas she got beaten a whisker by Broadsiding who is a very, very good three-year-old colt, and she’s done it herself today.
“That was a dominant win. I don’t get as emotional these days as I used to, but that was really special.
“I was waiting for something to come with us at the 300m and you could see there was some horses doing their best, but when she peeled out with 100m to go it was really special.”
Waller and connections will now see how she pulls up before making a final call on an unlikely quick back-up into next weekend’s Group 1 Australian Oaks over the same track and trip.
“I’ll see how she pulls up and try to make the right decision,” he said.
“My job is to look after her. It would be unlikely that she would back up. But, wow, I can’t wait for what’s the next chapter because she’s a rising star.”
The latest all-in 2025 Australian Oaks odds at Ladbrokes.com.au have her as the $5 second elect behind Matt Laurie’s Vinery Stud Stakes winning filly Treasurethe Moment ($1.60).
2025 Australian Derby Results
Australian Derby 2025 Odds & Results
Atc Australian Derby (G1)
| Runner Details | Win | Place |
|---|---|---|
|
1st
18. Aeliana (2) J: Damian Lane 54.5kg
T: Chris Waller |
||
|
2nd
7. Firm Agreement (6) J: Tyler Schiller 56.5kg
T: Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald |
||
|
3rd
4. Shanwah (4) J: Blake Shinn 56.5kg
T: Ciaron Maher |
||
|
4th
1. Willydoit (8) J: Michael Dee 56.5kg
T: Shaun & Emma Clotworthy |
||
|
5th
8. King Of Thunder (1) J: Zac Lloyd 56.5kg
T: John O'Shea & Tom Charlton |
||
|
6th
5. Plymouth (3) J: Mark Zahra 56.5kg
T: Glen Thompson |
||
|
7th
9. Golden Century (13) J: Nash Rawiller 56.5kg
T: Tony Pike |
||
|
8th
6. Pocketing (14) J: Josh Parr 56.5kg
T: Richard & Will Freedman |
||
|
9th
15. Autumn Aroha (5) J: Chad Schofield 56.5kg
T: Richard Litt |
||
|
10th
3. Thedoctoroflove (12) J: Daniel Moor 56.5kg
T: Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young |
||
|
11th
2. Goldrush Guru (11) J: Jamie Melham 56.5kg
T: Andrew Gluyas |
||
|
12th
11. Mustang Morgan (10) J: Craig Williams 56.5kg
T: Andrew Forsman |
||
|
13th
13. Confetti Garden (16) J: Tommy Berry 56.5kg
T: Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young |
||
|
14th
14. Tsitsipas (9) J: Ben Melham 56.5kg
T: Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young |
||
|
15th
10. Imperialist (17) J: Ryan Moore 56.5kg
T: Chris Waller |
||
|
16th
19. Flying Argento (18) J: Reece Jones 56.5kg
T: Gary Portelli |
||
|
17th
16. Bernen Win (15) J: Tom Sherry 56.5kg
T: John P Thompson |
||
|
18th
17. Kosuke (7) J: Ashley Morgan 56.5kg
T: Gregory McFarlane |
Data retrieved: 16/05/2025 06:11:42 AM (Australia/Brisbane)
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