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<\/a><\/p>\nStablemates Aeliana and Buckaroo also worked solo to round out their preparations after which Via Sistina drew barrier five with Aeliana in gate eight and Buckaroo in four in the nine-horse field.<\/p>\n
Waller said it was just as well the stable fitted the earmuffs to Via Sistina as she was full of energy.<\/p>\n
He declared the mare spot on for Saturday\u2019s 2040m contest at weight-for-age.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u2019s the same as last year,\u201d Waller said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know she hasn\u2019t won in her last couple of runs, but the sectional times, if you break them down, I think she\u2019s going as well.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe just haven\u2019t had the pressure in the races that we would have liked. Subsequently she hasn\u2019t won, but she\u2019s going very well.\u201d<\/p>\n
Waller said he was concerned whether there would be enough pressure in Saturday\u2019s race, but the mare will not be ridden out of her comfort zone.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe needs to make her own luck, her own sectional times,\u201d Waller said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll be riding our own race. It\u2019s a Cox Plate. It\u2019s her grand final, it\u2019s like any sport, it brings out good competition.\u201d<\/p>\n
Waller has seen steady improvement from Aeliana since she was sent to Melbourne in early September, with her coat just about where it should be.<\/p>\n
He said in terms of \u2018inner health\u2019, Aeliana is in a good spot, just her coat has not had the glow to it the trainer has been hoping for,<\/p>\n
\u201cHer blood pathology is spot-on, her recovery is good, she\u2019s working well,\u201d Waller said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI can\u2019t fault her. She\u2019s just a young horse that\u2019s still maturing and waiting for the spring and that warmth to bring her coat actually through.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u2019s as good as we can have her and I think she\u2019s good enough to be running well.\u201d<\/p>\n
Waller made the decision to run Aeliana after watching her work at The Valley on Saturday morning and noticed her coat was beginning to get some colour, and importantly her work was good.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat was the telling point for me, and I said, \u2018yep, there\u2019s nothing wrong with you, so you can run\u2019,\u201d Waller said.<\/p>\n
Buckaroo missed starting in last week\u2019s Caulfield Cup (2400m) in which he was topweight of 59kg.<\/p>\n
Waller said the gelding probably needs to lift to win the Cox Plate, but the forecast of rain gives him his chance.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe can see a little bit of rain coming and comparing to the Caulfield Cup where he had 59 kilos and which we opted out of, at weight-for-age it\u2019s a fairer contest,\u201d Waller said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need a bit of rain, but he\u2019s a warhorse and he\u2019ll run up to his best.\u201d<\/p>\n
Head here to watch Saturday\u2019s racing and the Cox Plate live and free on 7plus Sport from 12pm AEDT<\/a><\/p>\n Cox Plate barrier draw<\/p>\n 1. Treasurethe Moment<\/p>\n 2. Attrition<\/p>\n 3. Nepotism<\/p>\n 4. Buckaroo<\/p>\n 5. Via Sistina<\/p>\n 6. Antino<\/p>\n 7. Globe<\/p>\n 8. Aeliana<\/p>\n 9. Light Infantry Man<\/p>\n