Taking her unbeaten run to six with a facile victory in the $300,000 Group 2 ATC Theo Marks Stakes at Rosehill on Saturday, the Chris Waller trained Autumn Glow (The Autumn Sun) has the Group 1 Epsom Handicap as her immediate elite level goal.
Ridden for just the second time for Kerrin McEvoy who was keeping the seat warm for James McDonald who was riding at Flemington, Autumn Glow appeared to have improved from her last start Group 3 Toy Show Quality victory where she appeared unlucky in the run.
With the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained Espionage (Zoustar) going forward to settle a few lengths clear, the consistent General Salute (Russian Revolution) settled in second with Autumn Glow getting a lovely trail into the race in third.
McEvoy was keen to get going before the home turn as Autumn Glow came up alongside General Salute as the pair passed the tiring Espionage.
With the button pushed as they passed the 200m mark, Autumn Glow, in all her glory, extended once again, pulling away in what was arguably one of her best wins, eased down to score two and a quarter-lengths from General Salute.
Noted working home strongly into third was the NZ Group 1 winner Pier (NZ) (Proisir) while Group 1 Champion Stakes winner El Castello (Castelvecchio), who was having his first start for the Joe Pride stable, finished in fourth.
Speaking on behalf of the Waller stable, Charlie Duckworth was clearly in awe of the mare.
“She's got to be the best horse in training who is yet to win a Group One, which is the one thing that's missing off her resume, but I'm sure that will come,” said Duckworth.
“The target was the Epsom so it will be interesting to see what weight she gets in that.
“She is still very lightly raced and continuing to improve. What her optimum distance is, is still yet to be seen. She has got endless gears.
“She must have almost given Kerrin a fright how quickly she quickened up around the home turn. She is just electric.
“I don't think he even asked her, I think he might have just been thinking about asking her and then she took off."
Quizzed if the star mare would be better over the mile of the Epsom or the 1200m of The Everest, McEvoy feels she has the ability to be competive in anything she contests.
“I think she'll stay further but she's got a motor as well,” said McEvoy.
“I'm sure Chris and the team will make the right call. Probably a mile because then I might be a chance to ride her.”
With $862,500 in earnings from her six wins, the Autumn Glow was a $1,800,000 purchase by Arrowfield Pastoral and Hermitage Thoroughbreds from the Silverdale Farm draft at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale.
Bred and initially sold by Newhaven Park Stud to Silverdale Farm and Shrone Bloodstock for $600,000 at the Magic Millions National Weanling Sale, Autumn Glow is one of three winners from three to the races out of South African Champion Sprinter, and multiple Group 1 winner Via Africa (Var).
From a pedigree that doesn't stop with just the star mare, Autumn Glow is a three-quarter-sister to Newgate Farm’s Group 1 ATC Golden Rose Stakes winner In The Congo (Snitzel), whose second crop foals are arriving this spring.
Unfortunately, Via Africa’s breeding career has not gone to plan since foaling the unbeaten mare, having not produced a foal in the subsequent four season.
One of nine stakes winners for her Arrowfield Stud based sire, who is standing this season at a fee of $66,000 (inc. GST), Autumn Glow looks ready to join Vibrant Sun, Coco Sun and Autumn Angel and become The Autumn Sun’s next Group 1 winner.
