Autumn Glow shines again in Ryder romp
Just when you thought it wasn’t possible, Autumn Glow (The Autumn Sun) became even more impressive in storming to win number 11 in Saturday’s George Ryder Stakes (Gr 1, 1500m), earning the tag of “champion” from her trainer and some awestruck wonder from her jockey.
The start before, Chris Waller’s unbeaten budding phenomenon was fully stretched by her most worthy stablemate Aeliana (Castelvecchio), having to show how much fight she has beneath all that class with a 0.4–length success in Randwick’s Verry Elleegant Stakes (Gr 1, 1600m). It was her smallest victory margin so far.
On Saturday, she recorded her widest, roaring into top gear in the home straight to dispose of a quality field of rivals by 2.79 lengths.
Ridden of course by James McDonald – giving him his 131st Group 1 win and making him the first jockey to win three of the five elite races on Rosehill’s big day – Autumn Glow settled sixth of the 12 after being sent out at Winx (Street Cry) odds again, at $1.28.
McDonald brought her four wide on the turn and the procession began. Autumn Glow whooshed past the quartet in front of her then reeled in the tiring leader Beiwacht (Bivouac) like he was a Benchmark 64 horse, rather than the Group 1-winning colt he is.
The four-year-old – ordained as the equal 15th best horse in the world in the latest IFHA rankings – would have won by far more if McDonald had ridden her out. Instead, he went to the line with one hand on the wheel of this awesome thoroughbred machine, and the other pointing to the mare’s head to highlight the star of the show.
Autumn Glow had Group 1 winners chasing her tail in second, third and fourth placings. Ciaron Maher’s Gringotts (Per Incanto) and Bjorn Baker’s Pericles (Street Boss) – both six-year-old geldings – came in ahead of Lady Shenandoah (Snitzel), another Waller-trained four-year-old mare who was once thought pretty special herself before this other contemporary came along.
Rarely, if ever, can there have been a more emphatic validation of a yearling sale’s top lot.
Arrowfield boss John Messara picked out the daughter of his own stallion The Autumn Sun, early in the week, when the Newhaven Park-bred filly was presented at Inglis Easter 2023.
He would later disclose he took one look only, lest he reveal his enthusiasm to rival bidders. Messara ended up making her the highest priced offering of the sale, when he paid $1.8 million along with Hermitage Thoroughbreds, with whom Arrowfield had raced The Autumn Sun.
With her richest payday coming through last October’s $10 million Golden Eagle (1500m), Autumn Glow has now netted over $8.6 million in prize-money following Saturday’s injection of $580,000.
Much, much more is to come, as Waller finds himself again managing the breathtaking win streak of a thoroughbred superstar, so soon after the 33 in a row of the great Winx.
On Saturday, Autumn Glow matched former Perth sprinter Barakey (Key Business) in going unbeaten through her first 11 starts. The only Australian horse above them on that table is the great 25-from-25 Black Caviar (Bel Esprit).
Saturday’s win came as icing on the cake for Waller and McDonald. The jockey had won the previous two races on Waller-trained runners – the Ranvet Stakes (Gr 1, 2000m) on Aeliana, and the Rosehill Guineas on Autumn Boy – to catch and pass Damien Oliver’s Australasian record of 129 elite-level victories.
Waller and McDonald also broke the Australian record for Group 1s together in moving to 56, past the 54 of Tommy Smith and George Moore.
And with his treble, Waller moved to 192 career majors and within touching distance of the 200 barrier, eclipsed only by Smith and Bart Cummings, who so fittingly finished together, on 246.
After the anticipation of McDonald’s record, Autumn Glow’s win was pure celebration, laced with no small amount of awe.
“I guess the last two races were sort of pressure, pressure, without pulling ourselves up,” Waller said. “To get that out of the way and then to deal with a champion in the next race, it’s pretty special.”
Asked if he’d unearthed racing’s holy C-word advisedly, Waller said: “Yeah, in my eyes she is. I’m qualified to know what one’s like. So, yeah, she’s a very talented horse. Obviously, longevity is the key now. If she keeps doing that, she’ll be a champion for sure.”
McDonald, describing Autumn Glow’s unfolding career as something “quite incredible”, had to agree with Waller when told the trainer had declared her a champion.
“Did he?” he said. “Yeah, well, he knows what a champion looks like. And for him to say that, he doesn’t take it lightly. I’m sure she is. And he’s a champion too.”
McDonald added: “She’s important. Let’s not beat around the bush. She’s 11 from 11. People are here to come out and see her, and she’s got such an amazing fanfare now – it’s growing.
“It’s incredible – the feeling you get off these horses, and it’s special to witness people pin their eyeballs on her. I thought Anamoe was a big deal. This horse has taken it to a new level.
“It was evident in the week when Chris said you’ll see something special. So when he says that I take notice, because her work’s been phenomenal. I truly believe she loves fast ground, because there’s not a horse that could come with her.
“It doesn’t matter what is in the race. She’s just got an amazing sustained speed, it’s quite incredible what we’re witnessing. She’s the jockey’s dream. You get nervous on horses, certain horses throughout your life, and she’s one you don’t.”
Autumn Glow is now a $1.80 favourite for the $4 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Gr 1, 2000m), also weight-for-age, at Randwick on April 11. It would be her first run beyond 1600 metres, and she may have to again meet Aeliana, the $2.80 second elect whose Australian Derby (Gr 1, 2400m) success last autumn means she’s no risk at the trip.
Only the brave would doubt Autumn Glow for the distance rise. Waller, managing another unbeaten streak, would not be pinned down on whether that race would be her next target.
“Just wait, wait,” he said. “We’ll give them [her owners] our best opinion of what we think.
“Look, she just does everything so effortlessly. That’ll help her get 2000 metres. It’d be so good to get some feedback from James. Go and ask James.”
McDonald was having none of that pressure-laced decision, but did add another ringing endorsement.
“I’m sick of bloody pointing where she goes. I’ll let him [Waller[ decide, and John [Messara] will decide,” he said.
“Put it this way, I wouldn’t be shying away from any horse in the country.”
Autumn Glow is supremely bred, being the fourth foal out of Via Africa (Var), South Africa’s Champion Sprinter of 2013-14 and a three-time elite-level victor, and the dam of another top tier winner in present day Newgate Farm sire In The Congo (Snitzel).
Via Africa has had her problems in the breeding barn, with no foals since Autumn Glow’s birth in 2021. She is now in foal to reigning champion sire Zoustar (Northern Meteor).
The Autumn Sun – who covered 178 mares at $66,000 at Arrowfield last spring after having 2024 off with injury – sits second on the Australian general sires’ table, behind his late barnmate Snitzel (Redoute’s Choice).
He has ten stakes winners from 223 runners at 4.48 per cent, but notably five of the ten have won at the elite level.