Resuming off the back of two solid barrier trials efforts, Chris Waller’s Autumn Glow (The Autumn Sun) stepped up to open company for the first time, with the $1.8m yearling purchase extending her unbeaten run to five with victory in the Group 3 ATC Toy Show Quality (1100m) at Randwick.
Initially nominated for the Group 3 Show County Quality (1200m) as well, connections went with the earlier option in the day and with James McDonald in the saddle the mare jumped away well before going forward to settle in fourth.
With the speedy Bonita Queen (I Am Invincible) taking up the running and leading the field into the home straight, McDonald appeared to be in a little trouble as the Hawkes Racing trained Gansta Granny (Written Tycoon) accelerated as the Bonita Queen was starting to feel the pressure and was laying out, appearing to take the running of Autumn Glow.
Once Autumn Glow balanced up, McDonald was forced to go back towards the inside of Gantsa Granny to make his run, knuckling down strongly to chase down the leader and once she had her head in front the race was all over.
With a myriad of options open to Autumn Glow moving forward, Waller is still unsure which way to head, but the Theo Marks could be a suitable option.
"We are finding out way with her,” said Waller.
“She is telling us what her distances are, what her comfort zones are. Be good to have a chat to James. To see what he thinks.
“I just thought from the 500m to the 300m she was a little bit vulnerable.
“When you are talking on the best sprinters, you can't be vulnerable. That is on a very heavy track which she hasn't raced on before as well.
“She is ticking every single box, and we are trying to learn as we can.”
“We are going to take her home, that is where we are going to take her. I'll have a talk to the owners, Hermitage and Arrowfield and see what that think and have my five cents worth. To me she is a natural miler and that would be a safe bet.
“Chancing our arm in sprint races against the best when you are not quite there yet. She will be there in 6 to 12 months time but while chancing your arm go through handicaps, maybe a 1300m next start the Theo Marks.”
Clearly holding a soft spot for the mare, McDonald knew exactly what he had under him, even when the runs weren’t coming her way.
“There is no bottom to her,” enthused McDonald.
“Everyone probably thought she was gone but I said to John before the race all I want to do is let her breeze up one and that is all she did.
“She didn't have to improve much. She has always shown so much. The thing is we haven't even scratched the surface in terms of putting her under a lot of pressure.
“Whatever she has done so far, Chris has just wrapped her in cotton wool. She is doing it all on her own. When she starts with the sword put to her, she will respond really well. She is that type of horse. She has got no pain barrier.”
Bred by Newhaven Park Stud and consigned through their draft at the 2022 Magic Millions National Weanling Sale, the filly was purchased for $600,000 by Silverdale Farm and Shrone Bloodstock.
Offered through the Silverdale draft at the Inglis Easter yearling sale, the sale-topping filly realised $1.8m to the final bid of Arrowfield Pastoral and Hermitage Thoroughbreds.
A three-quarter-sister to Newgate Farm’s Group 1 ATC Golden Rose Stakes winner In The Congo (Snitzel), whose second crop foals are arriving this spring, the brother-sister duo are out of South African Champion Sprinter Via Africa (SAF) (Var).
A multiple Group 1 winner in her homeland, winning ten races in total headed by three elite level victories, Via Africa’s breeding career has not gone to plan since foaling the unbeaten filly, having not produced a foal in the subsequent four season.
One of 17 individual stakes performers for her Arrowfield Stud based sire The Autumn Sun, whose stakes winners are headed by Group 1 winners Vibrant Sun, Coco Sun and Autumn Angel, it would not surprise to see Autumn Glow end the season as his fourth elite level winner, especially with the way she has returned.
Set to cover his sixth book of mares after missing last season due to a pelvic injury, The Autumn Sun will is standing a fee of $66,000 (inc. GST).
