Autumn Angel found plenty under pressure to add Saturday’s Group II TAB Kewney Stakes (1600m) at Flemington to her resume.
Ridden by Mark Zahra for Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman, the daughter of The Autumn Sun struck the front at the 300m. She looked likely to be swamped in the final stages but rallied to defeat the Staphanos (JPN) filly Basilinna by a half-neck, with the Pierro filly Mollynickers a head back in third.
The Group III Ethereal Stakes winner at Caulfield last spring, Autumn Angel advances her record to three wins, a second, and three thirds, with earnings of $384,940.
“I’m shaking. That was amazing,” Katherine Coleman enthused.
“She’s a really special filly. We’ve had a big opinion of her. Last start didn’t go to plan, but to come through and run like that, she’s really something special.
“She’s a very tough girl. She gives us a bit of a hard time at home every now and again, but when they’re tough like that on race day, you don’t mind it.
“It was a fantastic ride from Mark Zahra. He produced her at the right time. She was able to build momentum and roll into it. There are good things in store for this girl.
“There’s plenty of options for her at this this time of year. An Australasian Oaks, you wouldn’t go past that. Then in Sydney as well.”
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 last year’s Inglis Easter Yearling Sale, which failed to make her $150,000 reserve. Named Stolen Summer, she is in training with Paul Messara & Leah Gavranich.
Angel Of Mercy has a yearling filly by The SAutumn Sun and a colt foal by Maurice (JPN).
She was covered by Hitotsu last spring.
