Peter Moody made no secret of his admiration for Autumn Angel following a brilliant performance at Sandown-Lakeside on Wednesday.
Ridden by Billy Egan, Autumn Angel was given a cosy run midfield but desperately needed a run at the 300m. Once she found clear air, the daughter of The Autumn Sun lengthened impressively to defeat the Justify (USA) colt Delivering by one and three-quarter lengths with Snitzel colt Zondee a nose back in third in the Ladbrokes Communities Maiden Plate (1300m).
Autumn Angel finished second to Legacies at Cranbourne in April at her only start at two. That daughter of Justify (USA) added the VRC Anzac Day Stakes at Sandown at her next start.
Now training with Katherine Coleman, Peter Moody said Autumn Angel will improve as distances stretch out.
“She has come on well. I was a little concerned she might find this too short as she is a filly we have pigeonholed as an Oaks type,” Moody said.
“She had far and away the best form in the race. The distance was a concern, but Bill found the right run, and she was strong through the line.
“I think her next run will be around the 400m – 1500m mark. Does that involve a black-type straight way, or do we put another one on the resume? We will let the programme dictate to us.”
Autumn Angel was a $230,000 purchase for Dalziel Bloodstock / Moody Racing from the Arrowfield Stud draft at the 2022 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
She is the third winner from four to race for the Group III winner Angel Of Mercy (Hussonet), whose career came to a close when second to Cosmic Endeavour in the Group 1 Tatt’s Tiara.
Arrowfield Stud consigned a sister to Autumn Angel to this year’s Inglis Easter Yearling Sale, which failed to make her $150,000 reserve.
After foaling a sister to Autumn Angel last spring, Angel Of Mercy was covered by Maurice (JPN).
