When Autumn Boy made a winning debut at 50-1 at Canterbury last month beating his high profile stablemate Central Coast, some may have wondered if there was an element of fluke about the win… there wasn’t.
Stepped up in trip to 1400m and sent to Brisbane for the Listed Tattersalls 2YO Stakes at Eagle Farm on Saturday by trainer Chris Waller, Autumn Boy made light work of his first Black Type assignment with James McDonald in the saddle.
A quality individual, clearly stamped by his sire The Autumn Sun, Autumn Boy cut an impressive figure in the mounting yard and ran up to his good looks to score a dominant win.
He settled a little wide midfield with cover and let down impressively all the way to the line to win by two lengths and has now won two from two earning over $130,000 in prizemoney.
Stable representative Charlie Duckworth was with Autumn Boy when he won on debut beating Central Coast, who has since come out and won, and he was thrilled to see this colt measure up to stakes class.
“Central Coast was $1.50 favourite that day and obviously that makes the market spread out a little bit more, and being by The Autumn Sun out of a Savabeel mare, you were thinking 1250m might be a bit short and sharp, but he was excellent that day,” said Charlie Duckworth.
“He's just taken such a good step forward from first trial to second trial, and then to the race start, and then again he stepped forward massively today.
“We don't really know where the limit is with him, which is exciting and like any unbeaten colt, it's what you get into ownership for and I'm sure the Ritchie’s will be loving it all.”
A $200,000 Magic Millions purchase for Waller Racing/Mulcaster Bloodstock from the Amarina Farm draft, Autumn Boy runs for Glenn Ritchie, who has been a big investor in recent years notably purchasing the $2.4million Savabeel filly from Symphonic that topped Karaka Book 1 this year.
Autumn Boy is the second winner from unraced Savabeel mare Rosegarden (NZ), a daughter of Group III winner O’Reilly Rose from the family of Group I winning sprinter Shamexpress and also Caulfield Cup winner Affinity.
Pedigree would suggest Autumn Boy has untapped potential as his classic season unfolds and he’s already a stakes-winner at two becoming the ninth stakes-winner for The Autumn Sun.
Also trained by Chris Waller, The Autumn Sun first shot to prominence at the Brisbane Winter Carnival winning the Group I BRC JJ Atkins before coming back at three to be the Champion 3YO Colt of his generation.
The Autumn Sun stands at Arrowfield this spring at a fee of $66,000.
