Lead Story
Perfect ten – Autumn Glow dazzles again in Verry Elleegant Stakes
By Mary-Jo Jackson
@ANZ_News
Autumn Glow’s (The Autumn Sun) remarkable rise gathered further momentum at Randwick on Saturday when the four-year-old extended her flawless record to ten with a controlled victory in the $1 million Verry Elleegant Stakes (Gr 1, 1600m).
The daughter of The Autumn Sun (Redoute’s Choice) again showcased her versatility and tactical speed in the Soft 5 conditions, settling prominently from barrier three before asserting her authority when it mattered to lead home a quinella for Chris Waller.
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The winner’s stablemate Lindemann (Lonhro) rolled forward to control proceedings, with the resuming Sir Delius (Frankel) in second and Waller’s ATC Derby (Gr 1, 2500m) winner Aeliana (Castelvecchio) travelling strongly just behind them.
As the field straightened, Aeliana edged through along the inside and briefly looked testing, while Sir Delius built through his gears wider out.
But once James McDonald called on Autumn Glow, the response was immediate.
She lengthened decisively at the 300 metres, putting a margin on her rivals before Aeliana rallied late to reduce the deficit to 0.4 lengths. Sir Delius held on for third, another 3.4 lengths behind in what was an encouraging first-up effort from the dual Group 1 winner.
The mighty mare equalled the great Black Caviar’s (Bel Esprit) record of ten straight wins from debut.
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“She does everything right, simple as that,” Waller said of Autumn Glow. “Wherever she draws, whatever the conditions, she puts herself in the race and makes it easy for herself.
“She’s a different type to some of those good horses I've trained, when they get back and have your heart in your mouth. She's up on the speed. She puts herself there, so that's the difference.”
McDonald said the star mare’s temperament underpins her talent.
“She knows she's so good,” the winning rider said. “She moves like a dream. She just breathes so well and is so push-button. She's got an incredible turn of foot. We weren't going to see the same performance we did first-up because of the ground. Even though it wasn't to her liking she was always going to win, even if I went another furlong."
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Autumn Glow may be asked to go another two furlongs later in the campaign. The George Ryder Stakes (Gr 1, 1500m) at Rosehill on March 21 shapes as her next assignment, with Waller leaving the door ajar for a potential rise to 2000 metres – possibly in April’s Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Gr 1, 2000m) back at Randwick – should she continue to dominate at weight-for-age level.
The Doncaster Mile (Gr 1, 1600m) also remains in calculations, though the handicap conditions pose their own challenges.
“I'd love to try her at 2000 metres, but she's got to be dominant in her next win to give us that ultimate satisfaction that she can run it, otherwise it's probably the Doncaster,” Waller said.
“She's got a lot of weight [in the Doncaster] but she's a good horse. I'll talk to Mr [John] Messara and the Hermitage team in Hong Kong. I respect what they've got to say more than anything.
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“The only thing with the Doncaster, there are a few unknowns. You can get barrier draws, like barrier 20 and things like that. She's had some tricky draws in her previous races, but I guess when you've got a smaller weight-for-age field where your draws aren't as important, it makes the job a bit easier.”
Saturday’s win marked Autumn Glow’s second at Group 1 level and lifted her prize-money earnings beyond $8 million.
Bred by Newhaven Park and initially selling for $600,000 at the Magic Millions National Weanling Sale, she was the sale-topper at the 2023 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale, bringing $1.8 million when secured by Arrowfield Pastoral and Hermitage Thoroughbreds from Silverdale Farm’s draft.
Out of South African champion sprinter Via Africa (Var), she is one of two Group 1 winners from three runners out of the mare, being a three-quarter-sister to Golden Rose Stakes (Gr 1, 1400m) winner and Newgate Farm sire In The Congo (Snitzel). Via Africa was covered by reigning Champion Sire Zoustar (Northern Meteor) last spring.
Autumn Glow is one of five individual Group 1 winners for Arrowfield Stud sire The Autumn Sun, whose influence continues to grow, much like his unbeaten daughter’s reputation. The son of Redoute’s Choice (Danehill) covered 178 mares last spring at a fee of $66,000 (inc GST).
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Tempted clinches first Group 1 with gritty Surround victory
Godolphin’s top-class filly Tempted (Street Boss) achieved a deserved first elite-level success at Randwick on Saturday, successfully stepping up in distance to claim the $750,000 Surround Stakes (Gr 1, 1400m) in tough style.
The Ciaron Maher-trained three-year-old had already proven her ability over 1200 metres against the best, having finished third in the Golden Slipper (Gr 1, 1200m) behind Marhoona (Snitzel) after defeating that filly the start prior, and also being the first local home in last October’s Everest (Gr 1, 1200m) behind only the brilliant Ka Ying Rising (Shamexpress).
She resumed with a dominant win against the colts in February’s Eskimo Prince Stakes (Gr 3, 1200m) and was sent out a firm $1.60 favourite to break through at the highest level against her own sex on Saturday, despite being winless at the 1400-metre distance.
Once the barrier opened Savvy Hallie (Hellbent) rolled forward to dictate terms, with Thousand Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m) winner Ole Dancer (Ole Kirk) positioned close at hand, while Chad Schofield allowed Tempted to find her rhythm midfield amid genuine early pressure.
Turning for home, Schofield had Tempted building smoothly through her gears and she ranged up alongside Savvy Hallie before digging deep in a sustained duel, thrusting her head out on the line to prevail by 0.2 lengths. Ole Dancer held third another 1.7 lengths back, with Group 1 scorer Apocalyptic (Extreme Choice) disappointing five lengths off the winner in fourth.
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A relieved Maher admitted his concern in the final stages, and said the distance stretched the filly’s limits.
"Chad knew what he had underneath him. I was actually thinking, ‘God, get a little more desperate' halfway down the straight," the winning trainer said post-race.
"The 1400 metres is probably right at the top of her distance range, as we've seen. She's run second and now won at Group 1 level, but you'd think she is more dynamic at 1200 metres."
Maher indicated the original plan of a TJ Smith Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) tilt against older sprinters could now be reassessed, with connections to determine the next move. A trip overseas is also a possibility.
When asked if Tempted was among the best sprinters he had trained, Maher said she was better than 2024 Everest winner Bella Nipotina (Pride Of Dubai) at the same stage, but only time would tell if she could match the latter's longevity.
"She is definitely right up there. She ran second to the best sprinter in the world as a three-year-old. You'd think with furnishing, she is only going to get better," he said.
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It was a bittersweet finish for connections of Savvy Hallie, who were both proud of their filly and gutted to lose a Group 1 in a photo finish.
"Heartbreaking to get beaten," jockey Nash Rawiller said. "I loved her tenacity. She made Tempted really work for it. She was great."
With six wins and four placings from 11 starts, Tempted has now amassed more than $5.1 million in prize-money earnings.
Bred and raced by Godolphin, she is the standout performer from four foals to race out of the Group 2-winning Exceed And Excel (Danehill) mare Calliope, herself a sister to Group 3 winner Zethus. Calliope is also the dam of dual Group 2 scorer Kallos (Medaglia D'Oro) and recent Talindert Stakes (Listed, 1100m) placegetter Zambales (Pinatubo) and descends from the family of VRC Oaks (Gr 1, 2500m) heroine Bulla Borghese (Belong To Me).
In winning Saturday’s race, Tempted became the 13th individual Group 1 winner, and third this season, for Darley’s flying sire Street Boss (Street Cry), following the exploits of Coolmore Stud Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) and Black Caviar Lightning Stakes (Gr 1, 1000m) winner Tentyris and Pericles’s Futurity Stakes (Gr 1, 1400m) success last week.
The son of Street Cry (Machiavellian) covered 70 mares at an unchanged $66,000 (inc GST) fee last spring and will be represented by six yearlings at the Inglis Premier Sale, which begins on Sunday.
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‘Superstar’ Observer cements stud future with Guineas success
Shortly after Tempted’s Surround Stakes win, her stablemate Observer (Ghaiyyath) parlayed the success for Ciaron Maher and Godolphin with his classy triumph in the Australian Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m) at Flemington.
The versatile son of Ghaiyyath (Dubawi) claimed the VRC Derby (Gr 1, 2500m) last November and resumed in February with a win over the reopposing Planet Red (Admire Mars) in the Autumn Stakes (Gr 2, 1400m) at Caulfield.
As such, he was sent out the $1.85 favourite to double his Group 1 tally on Saturday, and settled third from barrier six under Ethan Brown. He was eased onto the rail approaching the home turn, and gained a run up the fence upon straightening.
The colt surged through and put his head down to assert late, scoring by a half-length over Planet Red, who charged home for second, finishing 0.2 lengths ahead of a game Sixties (Flying Artie).
Brown, who suffered a lacerated liver and kidney damage when Maximillius (Written Tycoon) crashed out of the 2023 Guineas, explained his patient ride post-race.
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“I’m sure the punters were thinking, ‘what’s going on here?’” Brown said of his decision to hug the fence. “But the main thing with him is getting him to relax and settle. That meant riding him cool and patient.
“From there the track was fair, we stuck to the fence and he did the rest. He’s a superstar.”
Maher’s assistant trainer Jack Turnbull paid tribute to the winning rider and said the win carried extra meaning for the stable after Brown’s serious fall in the race three years ago.
“He’s a big part of our team,” said Turnbull. “He rides work, trials, gallops – you can ring him anytime to talk through a horse. He’s a special rider and it’s special we got the job done today.”
Maher previously achieved the similar Derby–Guineas double with Hitotsu (Maurice) and Turnbull drew comparisons between the pair.
“He’s probably the closest thing we’ve likened to Hitotsu in terms of racing style,” he said. “He's probably not as dynamic, but his ability to be winning a Derby and coming back to be a Group 1 mile Guineas winner at his next preparation is hard to do. You don’t often see it. It's a credit to the horse, and to Godolphin as an organisation.”
Saturday’s success took Observer’s record to five wins from nine starts, with prize-money earnings just shy of $2.6 million. It opened multiple autumn options, including the Australian Cup (Gr 1, 2000m), Rosehill Guineas (Gr 1, 2000m) and Doncaster Mile (Gr 1, 1600m).
Darley’s burgeoning second-season sire Ghaiyyath will be represented by 17 lots at Inglis Premier, including Stonehouse Thoroughbreds’ Lot 19, a half-brother to another VRC Derby winner in 2018 victor Extra Brut (Domesday).
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Slipper picture sharpens as Spicy Miss and Campione D’Italia strike at Randwick
Golden Slipper (Gr 1, 1200m) aspirations crystallised at Randwick on Saturday as Spicy Miss (Trapeze Artist) and Campione D’Italia (Snitzel) claimed their respective Group 2 races, each earning a coveted berth in the $5 million juvenile feature.
Spicy Miss took the stage first and kicked off her trainer Ciaron Maher’s fantastic afternoon when she produced a determined display to break her maiden in the $300,000 Sweet Embrace Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m).
The flashy daughter of Trapeze Artist (Snitzel) had filled the runner-up position at both her previous outings – in the $1 million Golden Gift (1100m) on debut during the spring and first-up in February’s Lonhro Plate (Listed, 1000m) behind Agrarian Girl (Tassort).
Stepping up to 1200 metres on Saturday, the filly was ridden positively by Zac Lloyd and travelled sweetly on the speed before surging to the lead inside the final furlong. She dug deep to deny Screen Icon (Nicconi), who finished well from the back, by 0.4 lengths. By Choice (Written By) stuck on gamely for third, another 0.7 lengths adrift. The result was a trifecta for Widden Stud sires.
Lloyd believes Spicy Miss’ attitude will serve her well in the Golden Slipper, for which she firmed into a $15 chance after her first win.
“She ran very well first-up, but both Ciaron and the owners alluded to the fact that she'd improve off the run and they were exactly right. She dug deep today and I think the 1200 metres was a good step for her,” the winning rider said.
“She definitely does [feel like a Golden Slipper horse]. I think her mentality and her will to win is going to take her a long way. She's good out of the machine, she does everything right, so that's going to really help her in a high-pressure race like the Golden Slipper.”
Maher said the filly had strengthened significantly since her debut campaign and would head straight to Rosehill in three weeks.
“She’s always shown that sort of ability,” the winning trainer said. “The Darby team has found another one. She made really nice improvement out of her first run and her first-up run this preparation and just tightened nicely. I thought she presented well and she’ll make similar improvement again.”
A $150,000 Magic Millions purchase for Darby Racing from Widden Stud’s draft, Spicy Miss is the first winner out of the imported Street Boss (Street Cry) mare Sweet Gisel and was bred by the Vieira Group.
In winning Saturday’s race, she took Trapeze Artist’s record of individual stakes winners to 11, which soon became 12 when three-year-old gelding The Crimson Pirate completed a stakes double for the Widden resident in the Lex Piper Stakes (Listed, 1600m) at Ascot. Trapeze Artist served 52 mares at a reduced fee of $33,000 (inc GST) in the spring.
The next at Randwick was the turn of the colts and saw Campione D’Italia propel his name into Slipper calculations with a boilover victory in the $300,000 Skyline Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m).
The Chris Waller-trained son of Snitzel (Redoute’s Choice) had been well-fancied on debut in the Lonhro Plate but finished unplaced.
Sent out a $41 chance on Saturday, he settled just off the speed under Tommy Berry before charging down the outside in the home straight to narrowly prevail in a blanket finish, with less than a half-length separating the first four.
His fast-finishing stablemate Central Europe (Frankel) was a 0.1-length second, with the same margin separating him from the third-placed Star Of Jamaica (Profiteer). Favourite Warwoven (Sword Of State) was 0.3 lengths further behind in fourth, but remains the $6 favourite for the Golden Slipper despite tasting defeat for the first time on Saturday. Campione D’Italia meanwhile moved into $15 (from $51) for the Group 1 feature.
“He’s always shown promise, which is why we’ve thrown him in the deep end,” Waller said of the winner. “We didn’t back off when he did a few things wrong [first time out]. We went back to the trials and worked on getting him to relax.
“He’s very competitive – when the gates open he wants to get to the bend first. We’re teaching him to get to the winning post first. The Golden Slipper should suit because there’ll be genuine speed.”
Waller was also full of praise for debutant Central Europe, indicating the Frankel (Galileo) colt out of Champion 2YO Filly Tiggy Wiggy (Kodiac) would head to the Pago Pago Stakes (Gr 3, 1200m) at Rosehill on March 14 in a bid to confirm his Slipper place. He moved into $9 (from $18) for the March 21 contest after his promising showing.
A $500,000 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale purchase for China Horse Club, Newgate Bloodstock and partners from Baramul Stud’s draft, Campione D’Italia was bred by Gerry Harvey out of Medaglia Valore (Medaglia D’Oro), a winning half-sister to the dam of dual Group 3 winner Espionage (Zoustar).
His win provided the late Snitzel with his 168th individual stakes winner, further extending the legacy of Arrowfield Stud’s champion sire.
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