It may not have been the dominant win fans were hoping for, however, The Autumn Sun made a successful return to racing in Saturday's Group II Hobartville Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill.
Given plenty of time to find his feet under Kerrin McEvoy, The Autumn Sun came from the tail of the six-horse field to run down a defiant Vegadaze by a long-neck, handing the Lope de Vega gelding his first defeat in four starts. (image Steve Hart) .
John Messara's Arrowfield Stud had acquired a 50 per cent interest in the Redoute's Choice colt on the eve of the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) last October, which he won by four and a half lengths, his third win at the highest level.
Arrowfield bred and sold the handsome colt in partnership with The Aga Khan Studs.
"It's hard to make up ground today on the soft track and he has done what he had to do," Waller told AAP.
"Yes, I was a bit nervous. You always are when they are coming back for their first start of a campaign.
"He's not at his top yet. He had two trials and he didn't win them and people were questioning him but that's how we prepare our horses.
"He is a horse with the greatest temperament. He is so relaxed. He is just the perfect horse and ticks all the boxes.
"And he is just going to get better."
Waller said that no decision had been made for The Autumn Sun after the Group 1 Randwick Guineas although he has been inoculated just in case connections opt for a trip to Royal Ascot, which Messara did not sound overly enthused about.
"I was pretty nervous before the race," Messara said.
"The only race we are looking at now is the Randwick Guineas. We have not discussed anything past that and of course, there are risks involved in travelling horses.
"We'll get the next race out of the way first."
The Autumn Sun advances his record to 6 wins and 1 third from 7 starts with earnings of $2,551,121.
The son of Redoute's Choice was a $700,000 Inglis Easter purchase from the Arrowfield draft for Hermitage Thoroughbreds/ Waller Racing.
From a famed Aga Khan family, The Autumn Sun 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.
Chris Waller and bloodstock agent Guy Mulcaster also secured the Snitzel filly out of Azmiyna for $1.3 million at last year's Inglis Easter Sale.
Azmiyna (IRE) has a yearling colt by Not a Single Doubt that has been catalogued as Lot 369 at the Easter Yearling Sale.
After foaling a Snitzel filly last spring, Azmiyna (IRE) headed to Japan for a date with Deep Impact. From there she will return home to the Aga Khan's Gilltown Stud in Ireland.
