Why Aeliana is the most exciting prospect this spring

Many pundits have hailed the Chris Waller-trained Aeliana as the horse to beat in the 2026 edition of the Melbourne Cup (3200m).

The rising four-year-old mare is currently $11 with Sportsbet to take out the prestigious Group 1 on the first Tuesday of November, and expert racing analyst Mick Gannon has hailed the highest level of praise on her.

Gannon declared the daughter of Castelvecchio as the most exciting prospect of the spring, explaining that last year she was “nowhere near her best” and could prove her talents this time around.

“She's the most exciting prospect for me of the spring,” Gannon exclaimed on SENTrack & RSN’s Giddy Up.

“Last spring, she arguably should have won a Cox Plate if she didn't find issues in transit.

“And she was nowhere near her best - her coat didn't come up, Chris suggested that she wasn't near her best.

“If she comes up this spring, watch out!”

Aeliana completed her first trial in preparation for the spring on Monday morning and finished second last across 900m from a field of five horses.

Reflecting on the trial, Giddy Up host Gareth Hall labelled the jumpout as “exceptional”, explaining that she was terrific running through the line.

“Aeliana was exceptional, especially through the line,” Hall stated.

“Aeliana, especially after the line was exceptional.”

Promising signs for the mare who is being touted for a huge spring.

Alongside being the second-favourite for the Melbourne Cup behind Half Yours, Aeliana is also the $8 favourite to win the Caulfield Cup (2400m), $4.60 second-favourite to win the Cox Plate (2040m) and $5 second-favourite to win the Champions Stakes (2000m).

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