Autumn Glow's setback paved the way for Chris Waller's able back-up, Lady Shenandoah, to dominate in the Group 1 Darley Flight Stakes (1600m) at Randwick.
Coming off a maiden win in the Group III Ming Dynasty Quality at Rosehill, the daughter of Snitzel was in a class of her own under Zac Lloyd to defeat the Brutal filly Harlem Queen by three and a quarter lengths with The Autumn Sun filly Snow In May back in third.
Chris Waller said it was a tough week for the stable after Autumn Glow was scratched on Friday.
"I’m not going to get emotional about it because I’m so blessed to have these types of horses in the stable, Waller said.
“Autumn Glow, she’s a star. But this little girl here (Lady Shenandoah) is pretty good too.
“Guy (Mulcaster) and I, we got our heads together and said at the sales, ‘this is a Flight Stakes-type filly. She didn’t win in Brisbane and I remember saying after the race, ‘we’ll win the Flight Stakes’. That was before Autumn Glow started. So we got that one right.
“She was going to go to the Thousand Guineas because we thought another filly might be running in this race today.
“We won’t get too carried away, she’s still filling out and developing, but she’s got a Group One next to her name.”
A $525,000 purchase for Hermitage Thoroughbreds from the Arrowfield Stud draft at the 2023 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, Lady Shenandoah is a three-quarter sister to Group 1 Sha Tin Centenary Sprint Cup and Group III Ken Russell Classic winner, Stronger (Not A Single Doubt) out of the winning Starcraft mare Star Pupil.
Stronger is covering his second book of mares at Aquis for $9,900.
The daughter of 3-time Listed stakes-winner Ain't Seen Nothin', Star Pupil is a sister to Listed SAJC HC Nitschke Stakes and Listed SAJC Laelia Stakes winner Ain'Tnofallenstar and a half to Group III ATC The Schweppervescence winner Bachman.
Star Pupil has a yearling colt by Maurice (JPN) and slipped last year.
Lady Shenandoah is the 20th Group 1 winner for Arrowfield Stud's flagship stallion, Snitzel.
