Star mare Aeliana's first-up options have shifted after a mishap at the Warwick Farm barrier trials, with the Memsie Stakes now a serious contender.
The multiple Group 1 winner got her hind leg caught on the starting stalls during Tuesday's session, forcing her withdrawal from the opening heat.
Recovery progressing well
Trainer Chris Waller reports that Aeliana is being treated with anti-inflammatories and ice hosing four times daily, and so far there appears to be no serious damage.
"Minimal swelling and she's sound," Waller said. "We, of course, gave her anti-inflammatories after it so that's masking a little bit of swelling, and masking a little bit of pain."
"I'd say by Friday we'll be able to say we're in the clear. You just never know what bruising could be there, but every sign you can see so far is fantastic."
Race options re-evaluated
While this week's Rosehill trials will come too soon, Aeliana is expected to have a hit-out at Randwick on Friday week before a decision is made on her return.
The options are the Winx Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on August 22 or the Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield a week later.
Waller admitted the extra time the Memsie would allow has brought that race into calculations: "Where it would have been 80-20 before, it's probably 50-50 now."
"We're very confident we'll still be on track."
Aeliana is expected to be one of the headline horses of the spring and is high in early markets for the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups, and the Cox Plate.
