Autumn Angel Triumphs in ATC Australian Oaks - First Group 1 Winner for The Autumn Sun

Mark Smith - Saturday April 13

The Championships at Randwick have proven rich pickings for Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman. The statuesque The Autumn Sun filly, Autumn Angel, claimed the $1,000,000 The Star Australian Oaks (2400m) after the stable celebrated success earlier in the day with Eneeza in the $1,000,000 Group II Percy Sykes Stakes.

Top staying performance (image Steve Hart)

With all the fancies in the firing line at the 200m, Autumn Angel displayed her staying credentials when drawing clear under Mark Zahra to defeat the Victoria Oaks winner Zardozi (Kingman) by three-quarters of a length with the NZ Derby and Vinery Stud Stakes winner Orchestral (Savabeel) a head back in third.

Advertisement

The Group II Kewney Stakes winner at Flemington on March 9, Autumn Angel prepped for the Oaks with a second in last week’s Adrian Knox Stakes, conceding the winner 8kgs on a heavy track.

“The way she has thrived this week coming off the back-up,” Peter Moody said.

“I was taken aback so much that when Mark (Zahra) got on her, I was worried that I might not have done enough with her this week, but she has thrived all week.

“A big special thanks to my team at home and to Anthony Cummings and his team who look after us and house us here at Randwick.

“The Randwick track staff, what a phenomenal job they have done over the last couple of weeks under trying circumstances. Last Saturday was phenomenal and to back it up with this track today, congratulations to Michael Wood and his team.

It was Peter Moody’s 59th Group 1 winner and the second in a week with Katherine Coleman after the win of Chain Of Lightning in the TJ Smith Stakes.  

“She’ll think this is bloody easy, won’t she,” Moody joked.

“This is great for Wylie (Dalziel) and the ownership group who backed me when I withdrew her from the VRC Oaks, where she was probably the favourite to wait for this one. It is great to be rewarded and nice to get one right once in-a-row.”

Mrk Zahra enjoyed that (image Steve Hart)

A $230,000 purchase for  Dalziel Bloodstock / Moody Racing from the Arrowfield Stud draft at the 2022 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, Autumn Angel advances her record to four wins, two seconds, and two thirds from nine starts with earnings of $1,129,790.

She is the best of three winners 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.

Autumn Angel a $230,000 Inglis Easter Yearling

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.

A $575,000 buy for Katsumi Yoshida at the 2014 National Broodmare Sale, Angel Of Mercy has a yearling filly by The Autumn Sun and a colt foal by Maurice (JPN).

She was covered by Hitotsu last spring. 

Autumn Angel is the first Group 1 winner for the 5-time Group 1 winner The Autumn Sun (Redoute’s Choice).

Advertisment

Race Result - The Star Australian Oaks Gr1 2400m

Randwick Track: Good(4) Time: 2:31.49
1
Autumn Angel
- 3f The Autumn Sun (AUS) x Angel Of Mercy (AUS) (Hussonet (USA))
Tnr: P G Moody & Katherine Coleman Rdr: M Zahra 56
Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale $0
Seller: Arrowfield Stud, Scone
Buyer: Passed in - $ 150,000
2
0.9
Zardozi
- 3f Kingman (GB) x Chanderi (GB) (Dubawi (IRE))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: T Marquand 56
3
1
Orchestral
- 3f Savabeel (AUS) x Symphonic (NZ) (O'reilly (NZ))
Tnr: R James & R Wellwood Rdr: J B Mc Donald 56
4
2.8
Quintessa
- 3f Shamus Award (AUS) x Chaquinta (NZ) (High Chaparral (IRE))
Tnr: M W Walker Rdr: O P Bosson 56
5
3.4
Tutta La Vita
- 3f The Autumn Sun (AUS) x Negotiate (AUS) (Red Ransom (USA))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: N Rawiller 56
6
5.8
Basilinna
- 3f Staphanos (JPN) x So Royal (NZ) (Shinko King (IRE))
Tnr: E & D Browne Rdr: B Shinn 56
7
5.9
Bush Girl
- 3f Ribchester (IRE) x Endaxi (AUS) (Authorized (IRE))
Tnr: K J Parker Rdr: J Ford 56
8
7
Dances With Hooves
- 3f Real Steel (JPN) x Native American (AUS) (Snitzel (AUS))
Tnr: Cameron Crockett Rdr: Craig Williams 56
9
9
Piplup
- 3f Inference (AUS) x Pipette (GB) (Pivotal (GB))
Tnr: Brad Widdup Rdr: Damian Lane 56
10
9.2
True Fairy
- 3f Real Steel (JPN) x Cedar Lane (AUS) (High Chaparral (IRE))
Tnr: D Chujo Rdr: Noriyuki Masuda 56
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Sunday July 6
Here is the full list of 68 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Spring Goals Await Caloundra Cup Winner Half Yours
With spring staying features on their minds, Tony and Calvin McEvoy sent their improving stayer north to Queensland for Saturday’s $300,000 Listed Caloundra Cup (2400m) with instant success as the 4yo gelding Half Yours romped home by four and a half lengths.
Sweet Redemption for Stable Favourite Jimmy the Bear
Patrick and Michelle Payne enjoyed a red letter day at Flemington on Saturday with their rising star Buccleuch winning the Listed VRC Taj Rossi Series Final and then later in the day stable favourite Jimmy the Bear won the Listed VRC Winter Championship Series Final (1600m).
Dubawi Colt from $US8million Mare Wins G1 Coral Eclipse for Coolmore
Blueblood Dubawi colt Delacroix was a beaten favourite in the Group I Epsom Derby when unplaced behind his stablemate Lambourn, but he found his time to shine overnight when scoring a miraculous last to first win in the Group I Coral Eclipse Stakes (1m2f) at Sandown.
Sires With Winners - Saturday July 5
Here is the full list of 112 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Autumn Angel Brave in Kewney Stakes
Autumn Angel found plenty under pressure to add Saturday’s Group II TAB Kewney Stakes (1600m) at Flemington to her resume.
Sixth Winner for Anders
First past the post at Wyong on June 24, talented Anders filly Sapling lost that race on protest, but quickly made amends when returning to the same track on Saturday to score her first actual victory.
New Juvenile Stakes-Winner Wootton Bassett
A two year-old Wootton Bassett  colt bred to stay, Daytona made it two wins as many starts when scoring a dominant win in the Listed Pat Smullen Stakes (1m) at Naas in Ireland overnight.
Autumn Angel Too Strong in Ethereal Stakes
The highly regarded The Autumn Sun filly Autumn Angel launched late to claim Saturday’s Group III Schweppes Ethereal Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield and punch her ticket for the Victoria Oaks.
Group 1 Durban July Success For Son Of Australian Bred Gimmethegreenlight
Although not having previously sired a winner of South Africa’s greatest race, the Australian bred, South African-based sire Gimmethegreenlight (More Than Ready) added a 13th individual Group 1 winner to his record when the Dean Kannemeyer trained The Real Prince (SAF) added Saturday’s R5m Group 1 Hollywoodbets Durban July (2200m) to his record.