Aeliana awesome for Castelvecchio in 2025/26
Castelvecchio's sensational daughter Aeliana (outside) draws alongside last year's winner Dubai Honour at the end of an epic 2026 Tancred S. G1 at Rosehill. (PHOTO: Bronwen Healy)
Star Thoroughbreds’ weight-for-age heroine Aeliana headed Castelvecchio’s best season yet in 2025/26.
The 2025 Australian Derby G1 winner completed her 4YO season having won twice at Group 1 level with a further 3 Group 1 placings and $2,139,750 in prizemoney, taking her career earnings to over $4.4 million.
Group 1 seconds in the Spring behind Via Sistina in the Winx Stakes and Mr Brightside in the Makybe Diva Stakes preceded a luckless 6th in the Cox Plate.
However, she was only warming up. Aeliana returned in February for two excellent runner-up finishes behind her superstar stablemate Autumn Glow at Group 2 & Group 1 levels. Then in the space of just eight days in March, she turned in two stirring Group 1 performances.
Firstly, she defeated Lindermann & subsequent Queen Elizabeth winner Sir Delius in the Ranvet Stakes and a week later produced the season’s most enthralling chase, drawing on all her courage and elite speed to catch a resolute Dubai Honour in the Tancred Stakes. In doing she earned a Timeform figure of 122 and a lot of love from racing fans.
“Probably would have loved to have a bit of cover but it didn’t work out that way. She was so brave, it wasn’t my plan to give him so much of a headstart. I just waited and waited for her to be ready and when she was ready she just exploded.”
– Jockey James McDonald after Aeliana’s Tancred S. G1 victory, 28 March 2026
Bred in New Zealand by Rich Hill Thoroughbreds & Nearco Stud, Aeliana has so far returned around 25 times her NZ$180,000 yearling purchase price and she remains in training with Chris Waller. Her first race as a 5YO will be in either the Winx S. G1 at Randwick on 22 August or the Memsie S. G1 at Caulfield a week later, with the Cox Plate at Flemington on 24 October her major Spring target.
Aeliana was not a solo flyer in Castelvecchio’s squadron last season. Verona Rose, also from his first crop, won the rich Inglis Bracelet at Flemington in October and returned in February to defeat Group 1 winner Manaal in the Guy Walter S. G2.
Castelvecchio’s 53 Australian winners last season also included metropolitan winners Modella, I Am Carrot, Castlejohn, Full Hao, Four Candles & Golden Loom in Sydney; and Brillantezza & Two Wolves in Melbourne. They helped him compile $6.3 million prizemoney and finish 4th in a strong cohort of Third Season Sires, headed by Too Darn Hot, Blue Point & Alabama Express, all with more runners than Castelvecchio.
The sale-ring verdict on his 4th-crop yearlings was resoundingly positive, with 30 of 32 lots sold at an average price of 5.2 times his 2023 fee, up to a top price of $600,000 for the Edge Style colt.
Given that his first six stakeswinners have all earned that status as 3YOs and their best performances range from 1400m to 2400m, Castelvecchio will be making plenty more headlines in 2026/27.
The excitement about Castelvecchio’s prospects for this season is tinged with sorrow, as we mourn the death of his owner Ottavio Galletta in the last week of July.
Ottavio, who also raced champion pacer Don’t Retreat in the 1970s, and his wife Wendy have enjoyed notable success with Arrowfield graduates in recent years including Castelvecchio, Spring Champion S. G1 winner and sire Profondo, and this season’s Listed winner Caffe Florian.
John & Kris Messara, Paul & Alice Messara and all of Team Arrowfield are immensely grateful for Ottavio’s friendship & support and extend our heartfelt sympathy to Wendy and their families.
