‘There’s huge demand for him now’ – The Autumn Sun set for return to stallion duties
Back from his year off through injury, siring sensation The Autumn Sun (Redoute’s Choice) is set to resume serving duties this spring with an enlarged and high quality book of mares that has Arrowfield Stud bristling with excitement.
Four-time Group 1 winner Levante (Proisir), plus fellow elite victors Marabi (I Am Invincible) and Palaisipan (So You Think) are among Arrowfield’s stock for a book capped at 160 mares who’ll be covered by The Autumn Sun this spring.
The ten-year-old’s line-up will also feature five-time stakes–winning sprinter I Am Me (I Am Invincible), a $2 million buy for Arrowfield at this year’s Inglis Chairman’s sale, plus a host of proven mares.
These include fourth-time visitor Angel Of Mercy (Hussonet), a quadruple stakes winner herself and dam of ATC Oaks (Gr 1, 2400m) heroine Autumn Angel (The Autumn Sun).
Star Pupil (Starcraft), mother of the outstanding Group 1 winner Lady Shenandoah (Snitzel) will have her first meeting with The Autumn Sun, while four-time stakes winner Missy Beel (Savabeel) will be back for the fourth time.
And Response (Charge Forward), dam of Golden Slipper (Gr 1, 1200m) queen Estijaab (Snitzel) and her stakes–winning full–brother Remarque, will have her second cover from the exciting young stallion.
With numerous quality mares from outside Arrowfield’s ranks also set to be covered by The Autumn Sun, anticipation is running high at the stud over the return of the stallion, whose $66,000 (inc GST) fee is unchanged from his past four seasons.
“He’s fighting fit and in great form,” Arrowfield’s bloodstock manager Jon Freyer told ANZ News.
“When he was injured last year, the time frame was such that he probably needed six to nine months to rest and recover. That took him till end of the season, so he’s actually had an extra six months of rehab time he might not have needed.
“So touch wood, we’re happy with him and confident we won’t have any problems with him.”
The Autumn Sun was struck down by a fracture in his pelvis in April last year, just as he had built a formidable head of steam in the siring world highlighted by his first three Group 1 winners – in a dizzying four-week span.
Autumn Angel took the ATC Oaks, then came The Autumn Sun’s memorable Australasian Oaks (Gr 1, 2000m) trifecta through Vibrant Sun, Private Legacy and Coco Sun, before Coco Sun won the South Australian Derby (Gr 1, 2500m) a week later.
After several months of recuperation based on inactivity – box rest followed by a small yard followed by a small paddock – The Autumn Sun was given the all clear early this year.
Freyer said the five-time Group 1 winner had already been tried covering a handful of test mares in Arrowfield’s ranks, before his real assignments begin with the covering season from September 1.
Although he missed a whole covering season – which would have been his sixth – Arrowfield were consoled that his injury could have come at a worse time.
“He’s going to be missing a crop, but hopefully it won’t have too big an impact on his career in terms of continuity of runners,” Freyer said.
“If it had been his second season at stud, you’d be in a bit of a hole in that regard. But the fact he had a number of crops out there preceding his injury has helped him.”
With three crops racing, The Autumn Sun continued to make progress during his time off.
In 2024-25, he rose to finish 32nd on the general sires’ table, up from 39th the year before, with 75 winners from 146 runners and five stakes winners. He now has nine stakes winners from 183 runners worldwide, at 4.9 per cent.
The Autumn Sun finished third among third season sires last season, behind Harry Angel (Dark Angel) and Justify (Scat Daddy).
His coming book of 160 mares represents a sharp rise from the 101 he covered in 2023 as breeders watched and waited, after he’d averaged 148 mares through his first four seasons.
“There’s huge demand for him now. We’re turning people away every day,” Freyer said. “We think 160 is about the number that suits him. Given his injury, we’re not overdoing it, and we’ll monitor things as we go to make sure he’s alright.”
Outstanding racemare Levante will meet The Autumn Sun for her third cover this spring. She has a yearling filly by Snitzel (Redoute’s Choice), and missed on return to him last October.
Oakleigh Plate (Gr 1, 1100m) victor Marabi – bought by Arrowfield for $2.4 million at Magic Millions’ August virtual sale last year – has a yearling by Zoustar (Northern Meteor) and wasn’t covered last spring.
Tatts Tiara (Gr 1, 1400m) victor Palaisipan is due to soon bear her first foal, by Zoustar, having missed to Maurice (Screen Hero) on her first cover in 2023.
Arrowfield is also enthused over the initial book for Vandeek (Havana Grey), who’ll shuttle for the first time, for $22,000 (inc GST), from the UK’s Cheveley Park Stud.
A dual Group 1 winner at two in France and England, Vandeek will cover a full book of 150 mares.
“He’s arrived and he looks great,” Freyer said. “We’ve shown a few breeders and everyone’s been impressed.
“He’s fully booked. We’re contracted to take no more than 150 mares for him, and we’re delighted with the response.”
Among Arrowfield mares to be covered by Vandeek will be 2018 Spring Champion Stakes (Gr 1, 2000m) winner Maid Of Heaven (Smart Missile) for what would be her fifth foal, plus Later Gator (More Than Ready), dam of dual stakes victor Wee Nessy (Snitzel).
Vandeek’s first book will also include British first-timer Partly Cloudy (Sea The Stars), who was multiple city placed in France and is a daughter of Moonlight Cloud (Invincible Spirit), the six-time Group 1 victor best known in these parts as the mare who almost beat Black Caviar (Bel Esprit) in that famous 2012 Diamond Jubilee Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) at Royal Ascot.