Young Guns Look to Fire Spring Shots

Tara Madgwick - Wednesday September 6

Two young stallions in The Autumn Sun and Grunt have both stepped up quickly to post Group winners this spring – Autumn Ballet and Veight - and both have interesting runners on Wednesday looking to set themselves on the path to spring stakes racing.

Akicita looked good on debut and steps up in class today - image Racing Photos

A $300,000 Inglis Premier purchase, the Griffths / De Kock Racing trained Grunt colt Akicita was super impressive winning on debut at Pakenham last month and has accepted for Race 3 at Sandown, a Benchmark 64 event over 1300m. He’s taking on several other winners so it will be a good contest and victory will see him aiming up at stakes races. Read about his win here.

Chris Waller put the polish on The Autumn Sun and will saddle two expensive colts by the champion son of Redoute’s Choice in the 1300m maiden at Randwickon the Kensington track.

Matusalem was a $500,000 MM purchase from Arrowfield.

$500,000 Magic Millions purchase from Arrowfield Matusalem is a half-brother to Group I winner Kenedna and Group II winner Spill the Beans being from terrific producer Miss Dodwell, who has eight foals to race for seven winners, hard to think this colt won’t ultimately keep her record perfect.

General Sensei was a $550,000 MM purchase from Arrowfield.

Unraced General Sensei was a $550,000 purchase from the same draft and sale and is a half-brother to three winners from stakes-placed Northern Meteor mare Mount Zero, who comes from the family of Golden Slipper winner Farnan.

Advertisement

Justify (USA) went close to siring a spring stakes-winner when his quality filly Legacies chased Veight home in the Group II MRC McNeil Stakes and he too has  some interesting runners including Loving Gaby’s half-brother Limburg, who has accepted for race 1 at Sandown, a 1500m maiden.

Limburg was the most expensive yearling by Justify sold in 2022.

Trained by Team Hawkes, Limburg was bought for $1million at Inglis Easter from the Kia Ora draft and has had two starts this preparation for a sixth and a third so will be fit and ready to fire with the addition of blinkers.

.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Flying Artie 2YO Wins by Four!
Blue Gum Farm have an appealing roster of three sires for this spring and while it’s all in front of Sejardan and Oxley Road, proven favourite Flying Artie remains unbeatable value and the G1 sire produced a four length 2YO winner on Thursday.
Do Early Winners Equate to Long Term Stud Success?
As we move towards the end of the racing season, attention invariably focuses on first season sires and who will be the leader of the cohort by winners and it’s a close run race this year, but does any of it matter in the grand scheme of things?
Coles Bows Out After 60 Years
Pukekohe’s Wednesday meeting marked the end of an era for Auckland Thoroughbred Racing, as Ross Coles, a treasured figure in the industry, retired after 60 years as Clerk of the Course.
Breeding To Win – 2025 G1 Tatts Tiara
With Royal Ascot done and dusted for another year, let's turn our attention to the final G1 of the Australian racing season as some very expensive mares seek to land that elusive G1 and three runners will carry the Yulong colours!
Sires With Winners - Friday June 27
Here is the full list of 48 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Red Right Out Wins MM Queensland Qualifier
The 2026 Pacific Fair Magic Millions Polo & Showjumping will feature the third annual Queensland Off-The-Track Cup (QOTT) final on Sunday, 11 January 2026 at Doug Jennings Park on the Gold Coast. 
Sires With Winners - Wednesday June 25
Here is the full list of 42 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Randwick
Trial action was at Randwick on Friday and there were six heats for juveniles that included some interesting unraced youngsters highlighted by the full brother to a promising young sire, a well bred son of Farnan and an Extreme Choice filly.
Sires With Winners - Thursday June 26
Here is the full list of 42 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Mulberry Racing Secure Everest Slot
Racing NSW today announced that Mulberry Racing has secured a slot in the $20 million TAB Everest for a term of three years commencing with the running of this year’s race.