Saturday summary: Seven-day backup pays off as Aeliana scoops third Group 1

Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything

Aeliana guns down Dubai Honour in Tancred thriller

Chris Waller doesn’t back horses up on a whim, so it was a head-turning manoeuvre when he announced earlier this week that Aeliana (NZ) (Castelvecchio) would be on the seven-day back-up into the G1 Tancred Stakes at Rosehill after her G1 Ranvet triumph.

It paid off, and in a style that will go down in history as well, with last year’s winner Dubai Honour (Ire) (Pride Of Dubai) taking up the lead midway through the 2400-metre feature and making Aeliana work to catch him. The 4-year-old dug deep as the race looked to belong to William Haggas’s raider at the 200-metre mark, but she ground him down under the urgings of James McDonald to win by a neck. Almost five lengths back was third-placed Vauban (Fr) (Galiway {GB}).

"It's hard to beat a (William) Haggas horse when they're being set for a race as Mr Haggas does,” said Waller. “He shows us what training's all about when he comes down here. We knew we had to be on top of our game.

"Full credit to Aeliana, she's a proper horse. She puts herself in the race, never let Dubai Honour get out of our sights. He threw the task at the 600metre mark, probably a little bit earlier than what we liked, but James (McDonald) just cuddled her and fortunately she was just strong to the line and we just got there in time."

With his decision to back up the Star Thoroughbreds-owned mare vindicated, Waller reflected on the instincts that led him to the decision.

"(It’s about) just trusting your gut instinct more than anything,” he said. “Her winning the Derby was a big plus, so she's won over the distance, so you're not having to tick (those) boxes. The only box we had to tick was the seven-day backup. She's eaten well, it's been well publicised that she wasn't a mature horse in the spring and she's come back a different horse now."

Is a clash with stablemate star Autumn Glow (The Autumn Sun) on the cards now?

"She's had two solid runs, we'll see how the Queen Elizabeth fits in. She'll be here for another two years so that's a lot of races to still look forward to."

Sales: Aeliana was a NZ$180,000 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale purchase for Star Thoroughbreds from the draft of Rich Hill Stud. They returned in 2025 to purchase her half-sister by Proisir, now named Jessenya (NZ), for NZ$300,000 in conjunction with / Randwick Bloodstock Agency (FBAA).

Pedigree: Aeliana hails from an exceptional female family, with her dam Temolie (Star Witness) being a half-sister to Invincibella (I Am Invincible) as well as Group 3 winner Secret Blaze (Sizzling) and Listed winner Extreme Flight (Extreme Choice). Three dams back is multiple Listed winner Taciturn (NZ) (Noble Bijou {USA}), dam of G1 Adelaide Cup winner The Hind (McGinty {USA}).

After a year off in 2024, Temolie visited Castelvecchio’s sire Dundeel (NZ) in 2025.

Belle Cheval snatches Vinery away by a whisker

It all came down to the photo, but Belle Cheval (NZ) (Savabeel) continued the strong line of form for Kiwi fillies in the G1 Vinery Stud Stakes at Rosehill on Saturday with victory over After Summer (The Autumn Sun) by a whisker. The final furlong of the race was a grinding dogfight between the two and eventual third placegetter Salty Pearl (Tagaloa), with second favourite Ohope Wins (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) unable to do better than fourth.

It was Mark Walker’s Belle Cheval that got her nose down on the line, but connections of After Summer immediately lodged a protest, alleging interference at the 200-metre mark. After 20 minutes deliberation, the stewards ruled in favour of the Kiwi raider to secure Group 1 victories on both sides of the Tasman.

"It was the NZB Kiwi photo all over again,” Walker said, referring to the whisker the filly was beaten by in the NZ$3.5 million race, where she was downed by Well Written (Written Tycoon).

“She just ran around a bit, but it was great for the filly. (Breeders and co-owners) David (Archer) and Diane (Wright), and the team at home in New Zealand prepared her really well. Everyone has been working hard in Melbourne and New Zealand. We had a Group 1 at home today and a Group 1 here, so it's a very special day."

Walker and co-trainer Sam Bergerson also took out the G1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes with I Am Invincible colt Seize The Day.

"I actually thought we got beaten, whereas I'd thought we'd won the NZB Kiwi. I was glad to see the photo."

Walker indicated the filly would head to the paddock for a well earned break now, and he would discuss options with her connections - including a possible $10 million Golden Eagle tilt.

He also paid homage to her sire, Savabeel, saying, “he's been the perennial champion sire at home (New Zealand) for a long, long time. We're going to miss him severely (when he retires), he's getting on in years.”

Sales: Belle Cheval was retained to race by her breeders, Archer Equine Investments.

Pedigree: Belle Cheval is the third stakes winner for her dam Keepa Cheval (NZ) (Keeper), who is a half-sister to the all-conquering New Zealand Champion Sprinter Mufhasa (NZ) (Pentire {GB}). Keepa Cheval has also produced triple Group 1 winner (The) Bostonian (NZ) (Jimmy Choux {NZ}) and G3 Championship Stakes winner Cheval D’or (NZ) (Almanzor {Fr}).

Pike Racing purchased a full brother to Cheval D’Or at this year’s New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale for NZ$170,000, from the draft of Landsdowne Park. Keepa Cheval visited Chaldean (GB) in 2025.

Light Infantry Man denies Pride of Jenni in Australian Cup classic

The 2026 Flemington Autumn Carnival delivered a finish for the ages as Light Infantry Man (Fr) (Fast Company {Ire}) narrowly denied stablemate and crowd favourite Pride Of Jenni (Pride of Dubai) in the G1 Australian Cup at Flemington on Saturday.

In a race that kept racing fans on the edge of their seats, Light Infantry Man emerged victorious by a nose over a gallant Pride Of Jenni who looked to have set up an unassailable lead turning for home under Declan Bates, with Apulia (Fiorente {Ire}) finishing on strongly a length away in third.

It was a back-to-back Australian Cup triumph for the 7-year-old, giving jockey Harry Coffey another signature win on the Flemington stage.

Ciaron Maher was visibly moved by the duel between his two gallopers.

“I don’t know who I’m more proud of, the winner or the second horse," he said. "I thought it was going to be a spectacular race and to be fighting it out with two of your own, it’s pretty cool."

It was the incredible tenacity of the 8-year-old mare Pride Of Jenni that captured the imagination of the crowd. She fought relentlessly to the line, refusing to yield despite feeling the pinch late after setting up a six length lead into the straight.

Maher described her performance as phenomenal and highlighted the pivotal role Pride Of Jenni played in setting up the race for her stablemate.

“He needed Jenni,” Maher said.

The trainer also credited the guidance of suspended jockey Ethan Brown, who rode Light Infantry Man to last year’s Australian Cup win, with helping turn the gelding’s form around.

“Browny understands him well and I asked him to pass on some of that information last start and Harry didn’t really get it until he had finished the race. He rode him perfectly today. The start is very important for him. He blasted him straight out of the gates.”

Maher also hinted that Pride Of Jenni could return for another tilt at the Australian Cup next year.

“It’s such a shame for Jenni to run second again. I know for Tony (Ottobre), it’s a race he holds very dear to his heart. He strapped back in the day a horse for (Colin) Hayes. It still eludes her, but she’s racing in great heart, and you never know, we may be back here with her next year.”

The win marked Light Infantry Man’s seventh career victory, pushing his earnings past $5.6 million. He now joins an elite list of two-time Australian Cup winners alongside the likes of Cascadian (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) (2023 & 2024), Northerly (Serheed {USA}) (2001 & 2003), Vo Rogue (Ivor Prince {USA}) (1989 & 1990), and Ming Dynasty (Planet Kingdom) (1978 & 1980).

Sales: Originally purchased for €25,000 ($42,000) at the 2020 Arqana October Yearling Sale, Light Infantry Man was later bought for £82,000 ($158,000) by Blandford Bloodstock at the 2022 Goffs Breeze Up Sale before his successful Australian campaign.

Pedigree: Light Infantry Man is a son of Fast Company (Ire) out of the four-time winning mare Lights On Me (GB) (Kyllachy {GB}) who is a half-sister to Listed Pontefract Pomfret Stakes winner Choose Your Moment (GB) (Choisir). She was sold at the 2022 Tattersalls December Mare Sale to BBA Ireland for 330,000gns ($713,000), and is now at Yulong Stud. She has a Pierata filly at foot and visited Alabama Express last spring.

Derby back on radar for Storm Leopard after Tulloch Stakes victory

Storm Leopard (Ghaiyyath {Ire}) has firmly re-entered the G1 Australian Derby conversation following a commanding performance in the G2 Tulloch Stakes at Rosehill.

The Ben, Will and JD Hayes-trained gelding had finished a solid fifth behind Salty Pearl (Tagaloa) in the $500,000 VOBIS Guineas last start, but Saturday’s victory showed he is peaking at the right time for the longer Derby test.

Racing in the MyRacehorse silks, Tommy Berry settled Storm Leopard a few lengths off the early leader Shangri La Boy (Pierro), who had surged clear mid-race. As Shangri La Boy began to tire approaching the home turn, Storm Leopard was poised on the outside, gradually closing the gap. He hit the front in the straight and, with a commanding finish, eased down in the final 100 metres to win by a length and three-quarters.

Eureka Rebel (Fierce Impact {Jpn}) finished second, while Shangri La Boy held on for third.

Co-trainer Ben Hayes was thrilled with the performance and the implications for the Derby.

"I’m glad we went here, that was very impressive," Hayes said. "We’re excited and we’re going to have a good discussion about what we do with this horse in the next couple of days.

“We’ll definitely consider running in the Derby.

“We took him out of the noms unfortunately; we were going to go to Adelaide. But then we changed plans because he started to go so well. It’ll be a good discussion to have, if he pulls up well it’s definitely something that will be considered."

Jockey, Tommy Berry highlighted the horse’s stamina and composure.

"I’ve got to say thanks to the whole team there at MyRacehorse, they entrust me with a lot of good horses that they buy and this is another one," he said. “He won with a lot of authority today, he had to chase a horse that was a tearaway leader. I tried to make it as easy as I could late because I’m hoping he’ll back up in the Derby.

“I would’ve loved to have something challenge him halfway down the straight because he felt like he was floating where he was. I had enough looks to make it as soft as I could late just in case he had to back up.

“He’s so clean winded, he’s a real stayer.”

Storm Leopard now has three wins and a second from six starts, with earnings just shy of $250,000.

Sales: Storm Leopard was a $125,000 purchase at the 2022 Magic Millions Yearling Sale by Ben, Will and JD Hayes.

Pedigree: Storm Leopard is by Ghaiyyath (Ire) out of the Street Cry (Ire) mare Brilliance. He is the best of five winners from six to race for his dam, from a family that has produced multiple Group 1 winners.

Brilliance is a three-quarter-sister to recent G1 Futurity Stakes winner Pericles (Street Boss {USA}) and a half-sister to Group 1 winners Epaulette and Helmet, Group 2 winner Pearls (Exceed and Excel), and Group 3 winner Bullbars.

She’s A Dealer aces Group 1 test at Manawatu

Fourteen years after Say No More (NZ) (Pentire {GB}) captured the G1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes, her daughter She's A Dealer (NZ) (Ace High) replicated the feat on Saturday to secure her first Group 1 victory.

Trained by Roger James and Robert Wellwood, the mare has worked her way up through the grades en route to her grand finale of the preparation, and she delivered in style, making her move on the turn to down Special Sakura (NZ) (Satono Aladdin {Jpn}) by three quarters of a length.

“She hasn’t had a lot of luck in this prep as she has been running very good races without the luck,” Wellwood said. “She deserved that and mum would be very proud as she won it a few years back.”

It was a fifth career victory from 11 starts for the 4-year-old, who ran second at her previous start in the G3 Cuddle Stakes after two gallant fourths in Group company.

“It’s a massive thrill for the team who work so hard and it is these sort of results that get everyone out of bed in the morning,” Wellwood said. “She is a brave mare, a good mare and it is harder when they are only four as it is their first year against the older horses.

“That is not the last win you will see from her.”

Sales: She’s A Dealer is a homebred for Rich Hill Thoroughbreds’ John and Colleen Thompson, who race her in partnership with Mark Neill, Richard Kidd, Ian Hart, and Peter Merton.

Pedigree: She becomes the best of three stakes performers for Say No More, who also won the G1 Thorndon Mile. It’s an active close family, with half-sister No More Doubt (Redoute’s Choice) producing the G2 Hawkes Bay Guineas winner Lantern Way (NZ) (Satono Aladdin {Jpn}) and half-brother Say Satono (NZ) (Satono Aladdin {Jpn}) chalking up his seventh career victory this season.

Say No More hasn’t produced a foal since She’s A Dealer, but she visited the late Wootton Bassett (GB) in 2025.