Twelve months ago, Egg Tart carried the colours of Anton and Oliver Koolman's Heritage Bloodstock to victory in the Group 1 Queensland Oaks and connections will be hoping lightning strikes twice in the Sunshine State when The Autumn Sun carries the same silks in the Group One JJ Atkins Stakes (1600m) at Doomben in a fortnight.
Bookmakers promoted the son of Redoute's Choice to favourite for the season-ending juvenile Group 1 following an impressive victory in the Energy Air Plate (1400m) at Randwick on Saturday.
While Egg Tart and The Autumn Sun are both trained by Chris Waller, they come from opposite ends of the price spectrum as yearlings.
Egg Tart was a $40,000 cheapie. When she finished second in the Group 1 Doomben Cup, the daughter of Sebring took her earnings to a tick under $1 million.
By contrast, The Autumn Sun was a $700,000 Inglis Easter purchase from the Arrowfield draft and is unbeaten in two starts in his fledgeling race career.
The striking son of Redoute's Choice made a winning career debut at Randwick on ANZAC Day and was no less impressive on Saturday with a length win over Royal Celebration (Excelebration) with Whiteley (Sebring) a long neck further back. (photos Steve Hart).
"He's going to a Group One in his next race, he very much had to prove it today and he did exactly that," Waller's racing manager Charlie Duckworth told AAP.
"I'm sure he'll come on from the run and the extra 200 metres in two weeks will suit him down to the ground.
"The mile will suit him more and if they really run along it'll play right into his hands."
"It takes him a little bit of time to find his rhythm he was very strong and when Brenton gave him a flick at the 100 he really knuckled down."
There is plenty of depth to the pedigree of The Autumn Sun who comes from one of The Aga Khan's very best families.
He is the second foal of the unraced Galileo mare Azmiyna (IRE), who is a half-sister to Azamour (Night Shift).
Honoured as the Champion Older Horse in Europe, England & Ireland in 2005, Azamour's 6 wins included the Group 1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes and Group 1 Irish Champion Stakes, Group 1 St James's Palace Stakes and Group 1 Prince of Wales's Stakes.
