Perfect ten – Autumn Glow dazzles again in Verry Elleegant Stakes
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.
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.
“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.”
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.
“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).