$1.4million Favourite Rolled, But Winner Might be Special

Tara Madgwick - Monday June 9

The two year-old colts maiden at Canterbury on Monday was a must watch race with $1.4million Wootton Bassett (GB) colt Central Coast expected to be winning on debut, but the unpredictable nature of racing was seen to full effect when his stablemate Autumn Boy went off script to take the victory at 50-1.

Autumn Boy returned a surprise winner on debut - image Bradley Photography

The second foal of Champion 3YO Filly Sunlight, Central Coast had been scratched twice in the past week as his trainer Chris Waller waited patiently for the just right race in which to set the blueblood colt loose.

The 1250m maiden attracted a field of eight well bred colts with Central Coast ridden by James McDonald heavily backed to win and it looked like he would do just that with a furlong to run.

Advertisement

The dashing near black colt accelerated brilliantly and dropped his rivals quickly, but when Jason Collett popped the question to Autumn Boy, he produced something special to reel in the favourite and win by a neck to the great surprise of all.

Central Coast ran a super race, he just found one better and both colts have the promise of a lot more to come.

Autumn Boy is by The Autumn Sun, who was trained by Chris Waller to be Champion 3YO Colt of his generation racking up five Group I wins.

“He's always been a dream to deal with in terms of his work at home. He's very passive. He sort of flies under the radar a bit, and he's probably never had a smack on the bum before, so it's probably a good reason for him to really accelerate and hit the line like he did,” said stable representative Charlie Duckworth.

“He's obviously prepared to get over further, so it’s really exciting and delighted for the Ritchie’s.

“He is out of Savabeel mare, so you'd think that 1250 is probably the bottom end of his distance range.

“That's exactly pretty much what I said to Jason pre-race. You'll be hitting the line hard, but whether 1250 is going to be too short for him today, which is what I thought would be the case, but I’m delighted to be wrong.”

Autumn Boy was a $200,000 Magic Millions purchase.

A $200,000 Magic Millions purchase for Waller Racing/Mulcaster Bloodstock from the Amarina Farm draft, Autumn Boy runs for Glenn Ritchie, who has been a big investor in recent years notably purchasing the $2.4million Savabeel filly from Symphonic that topped Karaka Book 1 this year.

Autumn Boy is the second winner from unraced Savabeel mare Rosegarden (NZ), a daughter of Group III winner O’Reilly Rose from the family of Group I winning sprinter Shamexpress and also Caulfield Cup winner Affinity.

Pedigree would suggest Autumn Boy has untapped potential as his classic season unfolds.

Advertisment

Race Result - DrinkWise Mdn Plate 1250m

Canterbury Track: Soft(7) Time: 1:15.74
1
Autumn Boy
- 2c The Autumn Sun (AUS) x Rosegarden (NZ) (Savabeel (AUS))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: J R Collett 56
2
0.3
Central Coast
- 2c Wootton Bassett (GB) x Sunlight (AUS) (Zoustar (AUS))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: J B Mc Donald 56
3
1.9
Cabriole
- 2c Lonhro (AUS) x Flit (AUS) (Medaglia D'oro (USA))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: A Hyeronimus 56
4
3.2
Champagne Hero
- 2c Maurice (JPN) x Soft Sand (AUS) (Dansili (GB))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: Regan Bayliss 56
5
3.3
Perfect Apple
- 2g Per Incanto (USA) x She's Apples (IRE) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: John O'Shea & Tom Charlton Rdr: Zac Lloyd 56
6
3.3
Cosmonaut
- 2g Cosmic Force (AUS) x Vodianova (AUS) (Ready's Image (USA))
Tnr: David Payne Rdr: K Mc Evoy 56
7
7.5
Qatar
- 2c I Am Invincible (AUS) x Harlow Gold (NZ) (Tavistock (NZ))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: Tommy Berry 56
8
7.7
Delicious Derek
- 2c The Autumn Sun (AUS) x Tight Ropes (AUS) (Brazen Beau (AUS))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: Tim Clark 56
More Reading...
Juvenile Trial Watch – Caulfield
Three barrier trials at Caulfield on Thursday morning produced heat winners for first season sires Wild Ruler and Profiteer with the quickest winner being Free Flying, the half-sister by Snitzel to brilliant Group winning mare Learning to Fly.
One to Watch – Geelong
Trilogy Racing will have high hopes for the their talented filly Queen of Clubs in the Group I ATC Flight Stakes on Saturday and their colours were in the frame at Geelong on Thursday carried by a Zoustar filly that saluted on debut.
NZ Derby Hero Willydoit Primed for Epsom
Last season’s New Zealand Derby hero Willydoit will step back into the spotlight on Saturday when he contests the Gr.1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Randwick for trainer Ciaron Maher, with jockey Tommy Berry bullish the horse is ready to make his mark over the famous mile.
No Fluke – How Good is Autumn Boy?
When Autumn Boy made a winning debut at 50-1 at Canterbury last month beating his high profile stablemate Central Coast, some may have wondered if there was an element of fluke about the win… there wasn’t.
Milan Park Experience Highs and Lows
Tony Rider experienced the extreme highs and lows of breeding thoroughbreds within a matter of hours on Wednesday.
Blueblood Fillies From $3million Mares
Tom Magnier has been notable for his purchase of elite race fillies and broodmares in recent years to enhance the stellar Coolmore broodmare band and two of his $3million plus mare purchases have produced stunning fillies this spring.
Inglis Ready2Race breeze up footage NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE
Progeny of the likes of Toronado, Exceed and Excel, Harry Angel, Zoustar and Ole Kirk were amongst the standout performers from breeze up sessions conducted this week in the lead up to the Inglis Ready2Race Sale on October 16, footage of which is now available online.
New SW Wrote - Fast Network Wins G3 National Day Cup
Trainer Dennis Yip claimed a timely first win of the 2025/26 season, taking out the feature HK$4.2 million Gr.3 National Day Cup Handicap (1000m) at Sha Tin’s National Day fixture on Wednesday when his stable star Fast Network, a New Zealand bred son of Wrote, blitzed a strong field under Alexis Badel.
Generation Foals Built for Speed
Victorian farm Lovatsville offer a diverse stallion roster for this spring geared to satisfy a wide spectrum of breeder ambitions and if explosive Aussie speed is your thing then Snitzel stallion Generation will fit the bill.
Melody Belle Daughter Set for Long Awaited Debut
It will be a full-circle moment for Te Akau Racing at The Valley on Friday night when Lyrics ‘N’ Song, a daughter of their former multiple Group One winner Melody Belle, makes her debut.