J-Mac: There is nothing to worry about with Aeliana

By Connor Scanlon

Last Saturday, one of the Melbourne Cup favourites Aeliana ran last in the Group 1 Winx Stakes (1400m), performing well below expectations on the eye.

But sectional analysts reported that her last furlong was exceptional, with jockey Nash Rawiller exclaiming the mare pulled off a “special performance” from the rear.

So, the question begs: Is there anything to be worried about with Aeliana?

Speaking on SENTrack & RSN’s Giddy Up, champion jockey James McDonald, who rode Autumn Glow in that race, admitted that he would have expected more from the Chris Waller-trained five-year-old.

“You'd expect more from her, to be fair,” McDonald stated.

“Obviously Chris will go over her with a fine tooth comb and see what unfolds.

“Don't get me wrong, like she ran Autumn Glow to 4 lengths first-up (in the autumn), so you'd expect her not to be beaten by 8 or 9 lengths.”

However, the all-time Australian Group 1 winning jockey, who regularly rides Aeliana in her major races, excused the daughter of Castelvecchio for her last-place finish, stating she may not have been fully fit.

“But to be fair, you've got to be fit,” McDonald continued.

“Like she's had a very quiet trial - her first trial was over 850m - then she had the hiccup in the gates where she got her leg caught up, and then she's had a very, very quiet trial again over 900m.

“Then she went to a fast-run race over 1400m first-up only a week after her last trial.

“So, you've got to give her some slack. She's a very good horse.”

J-Mac continued by explaining that the gun mare will only improve as she rises in distance, exclaiming that Aeliana “will be fine” for her spring prep ahead.

“Obviously everyone expected a tad more, but she's only going to improve as she gets further,” admitted McDonald.

“I think (the Winx Stakes) was just a kickoff point, and if the data suggests that she was attacking the line better than anything, well, that's something to hang your hat on.

“She will be fine.”

When looking at the market for the Melbourne Cup, the 2026 Cup winner, Half Yours, tops the market at $10 with Sportsbet, followed by Aeliana at $11.