The Autumn Sun is Out for Spring 2024

Media Release - Wednesday July 24

Arrowfield Stud's leading young sire The Autumn Sun will miss the 2024 breeding season after sustaining a pelvic injury in his paddock in late March.

He has been under close veterinary care and restricted to box rest at Arrowfield since that time. A scan earlier this week revealed his injury is healing but not to the extent necessary for him to be able to serve this coming season.

Advertisement

Sadly for breeders, The Autumn Sun will not be covering this spring due to injury.

The Autumn Sun is otherwise in good health and coping well with his recuperation. We are confident he will make a full recovery and resume stud duties in the 2025 season.

Australia’s Champion 3YO Colt of 2018/19, The Autumn Sun has made an immediate impact as a sire with six Group 1 performers including three first-crop Group 1 Classic winners from just over 100 starters to date.

The significance of this feat is underlined by the fact he leads all Australian stallions for Group 1 winners from the 2020 crop ahead of Dundeel (2) and Zoustar (2). 

Advertisment
More Reading...
Bonny Grey Mare Wins G3 Strickland
Last December at Ascot, popular grey mare Admiration Express (My Admiration) nearly caused the upset result of the year when she charged home at odds of 100/1 in the G1 Northerly Stakes for second behind Victorian raider Light Infantry Man.
Aussie Owned Filly Wins G1 Royal Ascot Coronation Stakes
Long shots were the order of the day at Royal Ascot on Day 4 and there was no bigger or better upset than the 33-1 shock winner of the Group I Coronation Stakes (1m) for three year-old fillies with the winner Cercene sired by Epsom Derby winner Australia and owned by Australian Shane Stafford.
One to Watch – Scone
Kris Lees often sends a talented horse to the country to cast off maiden status and a two year-old Exceedance gelding did just that on debut at Scone on Monday.
Highview Makes Welcome Return to Weanling Sale
Many of the vendors at this month’s NZB National Weanling Sale are familiar faces who are renowned for their quality drafts at this sale every year, but the 2025 edition also sees an old friend being welcomed back to the fold.
One to Watch – Cranbourne
Second in the Group III VRC Maribyrnong Plate last year to Tycoon Star, this Cosmic Force colt made light work of a maiden at Cranbourne on Sunday when bolting away to win as he pleased.
Royal Ascot Day 4- Roughies Rule and an Aussie Owned Fairytale
The racing roller coaster took a big dive at Royal Ascot on Day 4 which was not a good day for favourite backers with roughies ruling in both G1 races and a first season sire produced the winner of the juvenile feature on the card.
Countdown to NZB’s 2025 Weanling Sale
The countdown to NZB’s 2025 National Weanling Sale is underway, with a compact yet quality catalogue of 134 youngsters, plus 10 supplementary lots, selling this Thursday 26 June at Karaka. 
Waikato Stud Weanling Draft Showcases Super Stallions
After a phenomenal few months for Waikato Stud’s stallion roster, the world-renowned nursery will offer six select progeny of those high-flying sires at this week’s NZB National Weanling Sale at Karaka.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Canterbury
There were a whopping 10 heats won by juveniles at the Canterbury trials on Monday morning that included some interesting unraced youngsters by Zoustar, Zousain and Trapeze Artist, plus a good looking youngster that may see the benefit of gelding.
Royal Ascot Day 5 – Runaway, Rising Empire and My Best Friend
After five spectacular days of racing, Royal Ascot is over with the finale overnight producing high drama with a runaway G1 winner, the rise of a racing empire and the first stakes horse for St Mark’s Basilica.