The Flemington meeting on Sunday was the scene of the VRC Derby and Oaks Previews run over 1800m to offer budding stayers a pathway forward to spring staying riches in coming months and both races were won by 3YO’s sired by The Autumn Sun.
The Oaks Preview was run first with a farcical slow tempo making it a questionable guide for the future, but you can do no more than win and the Dominic Sutton trained filly After Summer got the job done after leading for Billy Egan.
It turned into a sprint home and she kicked clear to win by a length and a half over blue-blood Proisir filly Seychelles, who was bought from Karaka Book 1 for $1.6million. It was just the second start for Seychelles, who is a full sister to dual Group I winner Prowess, and she will certainly be one to follow out of the race.
After Summer was having her third start following a debut fourth at Seymour to subsequent stakes-winner Yum and then a seventh at Sandown to Engine of War, who finished second in the Derby Preview.
"They were going to crawl and she was up on the bridle, so he did the right thing in letting her stride a little bit," said Dominic Sutton, who is no stranger to G1 success having won the Group I VRC Australian Guineas last season with Feroce.
"She got a very soft time in front and when he asked for at the top of the straight, she never looked like getting beaten.
"We're still a long way out so we'll just assess how she comes through today.
"I'd say it'd be more like having a trial than having a race with the speeds that they went, so she doesn't look like she's had a tough run.
"We'll get her home and plot a path, and if she takes us there (VRC Oaks), then great. If not, then we'll put her away and save it for autumn."
A striking chestnut with a prominent white splash under her belly, After Summer was a $170,000 Inglis Easter purchase from the Arrowfield draft for Sutton Racing / Byron Rogers and was purchased with Oaks goals in mind.
She is a half-sister to stakes-placed Calling the Wind and is the fifth winner from five foals to race from Al Jasrah (IRE), a half-sister by Monsun stallion Shirocco to the dam of four time Group I winner Hartnell (GB).
The Derby Preview produced a first win for the Rory Hunter trained gelding Autumn Mystery, who did best in a thrilling four way finish, charging late on the outside for Blake Shinn to snatch a narrow verdict over Engine of War.
Autumn Mystery had a solid autumn prep that saw him run in the Group I MRC Blue Diamond Stakes in which he ran ninth to Devil Night, but his past two starts produced second placings over 1400 and 1600m with the step up in trip proving to be just what he was looking for.
Autumn Mystery will now be heading towards the Victoria Derby to the delight of his young trainer.
"That'd be the ultimate dream but we'll just see how he pulls up the next few days," Hunter said.
"I think he's got a very big future, but I'd say we'll be heading that way at this stage."
Blake Shinn was well pleased with the win and believes there is more to come for Autumn Mystery.
"He's got an aura about him when he walks around the mounting yard, and he carries himself with a lot of purpose," Shinn said.
"He's just got to get the racing brain to tap into himself, and I think that'll come in time and maturity, but he's certainly got a good engine, as he's indicated in a lot of his runs.
“He still did a few things wrong today but got the job done. It was a great effort."
Autumn Mystery was bred and sold by leading Victorian nursery Gilgai Farm and as is their policy they take them to a sale to sell and this guy made just $15,000 at Inglis Premier when bought by his owners Nick and Denise Thompson.
He is the third winner from three to race from Group III placed Sebring mare Stop Making Sense, a grand-daughter of stakes-winner Starcent from the family of Group I winners I Wish I Win and Savy Yong Blonk.
