‘Holy heck’: Waller stunned after star mare’s Melbourne Cup blow
Champion trainer Chris Waller has been left in disbelief, after star mare Aeliana copped a brutal weight for this year’s Lexus Melbourne Cup.
The five-year-old mare, who has won three Group 1 races in her career, was floated as a potential Cup candidate in recent weeks.
Aeliana. Getty
But after being dealt a 58kg assignment for the race that stops the nation, Waller might be reconsidering and divert attention to another big event instead.
“To be honest, I couldn’t believe she got 58kg in the Melbourne Cup – I’m not whinging, but holy heck, it makes it hard,” Waller told RSN’s Correct Weight.
“She’s a mare. That’s the equivalent to 60kg for a colt or a gelding. She’s won a Derby, 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. Simple as that. I’m not whinging, but I’m just saying ... she can’t win.
“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.”
Prior to the weights being released, Aeliana was the $11 equal favourite, but has since drifted in betting markets for the Flemington feature.
Nine.com.au has the official order of entry below, as of September 17.
Melbourne Cup order of entry
- 1 - DEFIANTLY (56.5kg) - Joseph O’Brien
- 1 - TAWNY PORT (55.5kg) - Miguel Clement
- 1 - SHOCKLETZ (51kg) - Ciaron Maher
- 1 - ZAKOUMA (52kg) - Grahame Begg
- 5 - AELIANA (58kg) - Chris Waller
- 6 - CHRISTMAS DAY (56.5kg) - Aidan O’Brien
- 7 - HIGHWAYMAN (56.5kg) - Joseph O’Brien
- 8 - HALF YOURS (59kg) - Tony & Calvin McEvoy
- 9 - LIGHT INFANTRY MAN (58.5kg) - Ciaron Maher
- 10 - TREASURETHE MOMENT (57kg) - Matt Laurie
- 11 - BIRDMAN (58kg) - Chris Waller
- 12 - PIERRE BONNARD (55kg) - Aidan O’Brien
- 13 - SONS AND LOVERS (57.5kg) - Joseph O’Brien
- 14 - GREEN SPACES (56kg) - Bjorn Baker
- 15 - BARNAVARA (56kg) - Chris Waller
- 16 - STINGER GLASS (57kg) - Yasuo Tomomichi
- 17 - TRUSTYOURINSTINCT (57kg) - Joseph O’Brien
- 18 - GOODIE TWO SHOES (55kg) - Joseph O’Brien
- 19 - MIDDLE EARTH (56.5kg) - Ciaron Maher
- 20 - JAMES J BRADDOCK (53.5kg) - Joseph O’Brien
- 21 - VAUBAN (56.5kg) - Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
- 22 - KNIGHT’S CHOICE (56.5kg) - John Symons & Sheila Laxon
- 23 - CHANGINGOFTHEGUARD (56kg) - Kris Lees
- 24 - STRICTLY BUSINESS (53kg) - Thomas Carberry
- 25 - ROYAL SUPREMACY (56kg) - Ciaron Maher
- 26 - WIGMORE (54.5kg) - Phillip & Tommy Stokes
- 27 - SHE’S A HUSTLER (54.5kg) - Grahame Begg
- 28 - CAUSEWAY (53kg) - Aidan O’Brien
- 29 - ENFJAAR (56kg) - Roger Varian
- 30 - WINE DARK SEA (56kg) - Harry Charlton
- 31 - RIVER OF STARS (54kg) - Chris Waller
- 32 - OHOPE WINS (52.5kg) - Chris Waller
- 33 - ASTERIX (55kg) - Chris Waller
- 34 - SOUL OF SPAIN (54.5kg) - Chris Waller
- 35 - ONESMOOTHOPERATOR (54.5kg) - Tim Fitzsimmons
- 36 - CAMPALDINO (54.5kg) - Chris Waller
- 37 - HOPEWELL ROCK (54.5kg) - George Boughey
- 38 - YELLOW JERSEY (54.5kg) - Tony & Calvin McEvoy
- 39 - ZAHRANN (54kg) - Ciaron Maher
- 40 - OKITA SOUSHI (54kg) - Ciaron Maher
- 41 - POINT OF LAW (51kg) - Ciaron Maher
- 42 - FUTURE HISTORY (53.5kg) - Greg Hickman
- 43 - KIZLYAR (53.5kg) - Joseph O’Brien
- 44 - DEAKIN (53kg) - Phillip & Tommy Stokes
- 45 - AMELIA EARHART (51kg) - Aidan O’Brien
- 46 - TORRANZINO (52.5kg) - Paul Preusker
- 47 - VALIANT KING (52.5kg) - Chris Waller
- 48 - MACHINE GUN GRACIE (51kg) - Ben, Will & JD Hayes
- 49 - PIGGYBACK (51kg) - Ciaron Maher
- 50 - THEBUDGIESMUGLA (52kg) - Bjorn Baker
- 51 - ATHABASCAN (52kg) - John O’Shea & Tom Charlton
- 52 - SO YOU ARE (52kg) - Bjorn Baker
- 53 - KING PEDRO (52kg) - John O’Shea & Tom Charlton
- 54 - POUNDING (52kg) - Peter Moody & Katherine Coleman
- 55 - LITZDEEL (51kg) - Danny O’Brien
- 56 - JUJA KIBO (51.5kg) - Ciaron Maher
- 57 - STORM LEOPARD (51kg) - Ben, Will & JD Hayes
- 58 - NEWLOOK (51kg) - Trent Bussutin & Natalie Young
- 59 - MR MONACO (51kg) - Ciaron Maher
- 60 - MANZOR BLUE (51kg) - Lisa Latta
- 61 - HIGHLAND BLING (51kg) - Phillip and & Tommy Stokes
- 62 - KINGS VALLEY (51kg) - Ciaron Maher
- 63 - JENNIVAMOOSE (51kg) - Ciaron Maher
- 64 - DON DIEGO DE VEGA (51kg) - Annabel & Rob Archibald
- 65 - GOLDEN CENTURY (51kg) - Chris Waller
- 66 - TAJANIS (51kg) - Charlotte Littlefield
- 67 - THINK GIANT (51kg) - Mick Price & Michael Kent Jr.
- 68 - NIL BUA GAN DUA (51KG) - Joseph O’Brien
- 69 - AGE OF SAIL (51kg) - Kris Lees
- 70 - BELLA MONTAGNA (51kg) - Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
- 71 - GRAND PIERRO (51kg) - Jason Warren
- 72 - SIR CHARTWELL (51kg) - Annabel & Rob Archibald
- 73 - SAINT GEORGE (55kg) - Ciaron Maher
- 73 - SOULCOMBE (55kg) - Chris Waller
- 73 - STARFORD (55kg) - Joseph O’Brien
- 73 - WOOTTON VERNI (55kg) - Chris Waller
- 77 - LAND LEGEND (54kg) - Chris Waller
- 77 - THE EUPHRATES (54kg) - Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
- 79 - KLONDIKE (53.5kg) - John O’Shea & Tom Charlton
- 80 - PORTLAND (51.5kg) - Matthew Smith
- 80 - SMALL FRY (51.5kg) - Joseph O’Brien
- 82 - OMNI MAN (51kg) - Joseph O’Brien
- 83 - AETHELFLAED (51kg) - Matthew Smith
- 83 - AETHELWULF (51kg) - Matthew Smith
- 83 - CONSTITUTION HILL (51kg) - Nicky Henderson
- 83 - DARKBONEE (51kg) - Symon Wilde
- 83 - FLOATING (51kg) - Matthew Smith
- 83 - JENNI MULTABELLA (51kg) - Lloyd Kennewell
- 83 - JOHNICH (51kg) - Jason Warren
- 83 - MALE MODEL (51kg) - John Thom
- 83 - NEARCO FROD (51kg) - Tony & Calvin McEvoy
- 83 - PIAZZA SAN MARCO (51kg) - Aidan O’Brien
- 83 - PINHOLE (51kg) - Chris Waller
- 83 - SAM HAWKENS (51kg) - John O’Shea & Tom Charlton
- 83 - SAPPHIRE SIREN (51kg) - Bill Papazaharoudakis
- 83 - STARZINTHEIREYES (51kg) - John O’Shea & Tom Charlton
- 83 - SUFFOLK STAR (51kg) - Paul Preusker
- 83 - TARVUE (51kg) - John Sadler
- 83 - VEGAS JACK (51kg) - Craig Conron
- 83 - WINDAY (51kg) - Emmet Mullins
- 83 - WOLFGANG (51kg) - Peter McKay
