The wraps were on the mark - the $1,800,000 The Autumn Sun filly Autumn Glow made a stunning career debut when treating a quality field with contempt in the Schweppes (Bm72) over 1300m at Rosehill on Saturday.
In a battle of the millionaires, Autumn Glow was angled out on the turn to set out after the pacesetting Dawn Service.
When balanced up by Tyler Schiller, the three-quarter-sister to In The Congo quickly gathered in the $1,400,000 Justify x Sunlight colt and, despite racing greenly, went on to win by two and a half lengths.
The Written Tycoon colt Iron Hawk was one and three-quarter lengths back in third.
Winning trainer, Chris Waller left little doubt about his regard for the Arrowfield Stud colour-bearer.
“She is something special,” Waller enthused.
“It’s a privilege to train these types of horses. She is a high-priced yearling by The Autumn Sun who was a special horse to us. It’s great that Mr Messara, Hermitage, and a few others have entrusted us to train her.
“We will look at how she pulls up, mindful that this is her first preparation, but I would love to get her to a Flight Stakes.”
Bred by Newhaven Park Stud, Autumn Glow was a $600,000 pinhook for Silverdale Farm/Shrone Bloodstock at the 2022 Magic Millions National Weanling Sale.
Silverdale consigned the daughter of The Autumn Sun to the 2023 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, where Arrowfield Pastoral / Hermitage Thoroughbreds had the final say at a sale-topping $1,800,000.
A three-quarter-sister to Newgate Farm’s Group 1 ATC Golden Rose Stakes winner In The Congo (Snitzel), and to the talented Hong Kong performer Pleasant Endeavor (Redoute’s Choice), Autumn Glow is the third winner from as many to race for the Champion Sprinter in South Africa in 2013-14, Via Africa (SAF).
The daughter of the Forest Wildcat stallion Var won ten races highlighted by the Group 1 Scottsville South African Fillies Sprint (twice), and the Kenilworth Cape Flying Championship.
Via Africa has had a heartbreaking time lately. She had two Snitzel foals, which were born dead, and she was not covered last spring.
Newhaven Park consigned Via Africa to the Inglis Chairman’s Sale in May, but she failed to make her $600,000 reserve.
