Waller’s Aeliana dominates Australian Derby field at Randwick

Aeliana put in a performance for the ages at Royal Randwick Racecourse on Saturday in the 2025 Group 1 Australian Derby. The Chris Waller-trained galloper was the only filly in the race, but it didn’t matter. She completely dominated the field in a historic performance.

The three-year-old from New Zealand finished first, a full five lengths ahead of Neasham and Rob Archibald’s Firm Agreement ($21). Ciaron Maher’s Shanwah finished third, five and a quarter lengths behind the winner.

‘Unreal’ run

Aeliana ($2.25) was the betting sites favourite ahead of Saturday’s $2 million race. However, no one expected her to dominate the Derby the way she did. Even her trainer was stunned by his filly’s performance.

“It's just unreal,” Waller said after the race.

“We look after them and they are just really starting to mature. 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 up with us at the 300m and you could see there were some horses doing their best but when she peeled out with a 100m to go, it was special.”

One of the reasons Saturday was so emotional for Waller was because Aeliana had fallen short on so many other occasions. The filly had not won any Group 1 races before this weekend’s Australian Derby.

“She's a great filly, she deserved it. She was beaten a nose in the Thousand Guineas, beaten a nose by Broadsiding in the Rosehill Guineas, just two career-making wins.” Waller said.

“It wasn't becoming frustrating but she deserved it.

Extraordinary’ says jockey

Waller wasn’t the only one with high praise for Aeliana. Winning jockey Damian Lane also credited the star filly for a stunning run.

“She was extraordinary. She left the barriers well, just travelled great from the outset and felt a winner a long way out,” he said.

“I’m not riding in the best form of my life, I’ve ridden well for a long time. You just slowly build up to these opportunities. The cattle, doesn’t matter how good you ride, if you don’t have the horse underneath you, you can’t produce.”

History made with Derby win

Aeliana’s win wasn’t just by a massive margin, it was also a historic run for female horses in Australia.

The three-year-old is just the tenth filly to win the Australian Derby and only the second to win it this century. She is first filly to win it since 2011, when Shamrocker defeated favourite Retrieve.

Shamrocker went on to win just one more Group 1 race in her career. Waller is hoping Aeliana can beat that record.

The filly could run in the upcoming Group 1 Australian Oaks, but Waller says he won’t consider her as a back-up.

“My job is to look after her and it would be unlikely that she would back-up,” he said.

“But wow I can't wait for the next chapter because she's a rising star.”