Waller's disbelief at Aeliana's Cup weight

Last Thursday, the Melbourne Cup weights were released to the public and many were surprised to see gun mare Aeliana receive the third largest weight in the prestigious Group 1 of 58kg.

But there was none more surprised than the five-year-old’s trainer Chris Waller.

The champion trainer, who won the 2021 Melbourne Cup with Verry Elleegant, has expressed his confusion at the weight, referencing three-time Cup winner Makybe Diva only receiving 58.5kg after she won her first two Cups.

In fact, Waller even went as for to say that Aeliana most likely can’t win the race that stops a nation anymore, and they may divert Grand Final paths.

“To be honest, I couldn't believe she got 58kg in the Melbourne Cup,” Waller told RSN’s Correct Weight.

“I'm not whinging, but holy heck, it makes it hard for a horse like Aeliana to win a Melbourne Cup with 58kg.

“She's a mare. That's the equivalent to 60kg for a colt or a gelding. She's won a Derby, a Ranvet, and a Tancred, but she's got a 60kg equivalent for a male.

“Makybe Diva, pretty good horse, she won her third Melbourne Cup at 58.5kg.

“Poor old Aeliana, I just can't get my head around it to tell you the truth.

“I think the owners of Aeliana deserve a chance to be running in a Melbourne Cup, like the horses before her, with a fair weight.

“I don't know where we're heading (for her Grand Final). Simple as that.

“I'm not whinging, but I'm just saying, Aeliana, like she can't win a Melbourne Cup with 58kg, can she?

“I don't want to cause a debate or get political at all, but all I'm saying is I'm not very happy that Aeliana’s got 58kg.”

Since the weights have been released Aeliana went from being the $11 equal favourite and has now slightly drifted to $13.

Watch Waller express his disappointment to Aeliana’s weight for the Melbourne Cup.

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