Progressive 3yo filly Autumn Ballet made a stunning return to the track in Saturday’s $300,000 Group II Darley Silver Shadow Stakes at Randwick.
Under a perfect ride by Adam Hyeronimus, the daughter of The Autumn Sun defeated the high-class I Am Invincible filly Estriella by a head with a half-head back to the fast-finishing Brave Smash (JPN) filly Kimochi in third.
Trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, Autumn Ballet made history when winning the Group III Black Opal Stakes at Canberra on debut in March.
At her only other start at two, the daughter of The Autumn Sun was a close-up fifth in the $1million Group II Percey Sykes Stakes at Randwick.
“I think when she got to that Percy Sykes, she may have come to the end of the preparation,” Bott said.
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uo;She made quite a statement on debut. It’s not easy to win a Black Opal, and she showed a lot of natural ability on that day, and she’s come back in good shape.
“I think she’s got the scope to keep improving, particularly as we get over a little bit further. That was the only concern coming here today. I thought maybe this preparation she was looking for that 1400m - 1600m. She’s certainly right on track to go through the series and I think she’s just going to get better as we go through the campaign.”
‘A $340,000 purchase for Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott / Kestrel Thoroughbreds from the Arrowfield Stud draft at the 2022 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, Autumn Ballet runs for a syndicate headed by Nick Vass.
She is the second winner from as many to race out of the Street Cry (IRE) mare Grisi.
Placed at Newcastle in a 2-start career, Grisi is a half-sister to Group II Meydan Zabeel Mile winner Zakouski (Shamardal), Group III Up and Coming Stakes winner and Group 1 Golden Rose runner-up Albrecht (Redoute’s Choice), and Group III Prix Thomas Bryon winner King’s Command (Dubawi).
Grisi’s dam O’Giselle (Octagonal) is a sister to champion racehorse and sire Lonhro.
A full-sister to the Siver Shadow winner became the first million dollar yearling for her sire when selling for $1.2million at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Grisi foaled a colt by The Autumn Sun last spring and was bred back to him.
It was a good day for former Darley shuttler Street Cry as a broodmare sire. His daughter Circular produced the Group III Vain Stakes winner Cylinder and the Group II Toy Show stakes winner Parisal.
