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.
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).
