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Fifth Group 1 for The Autumn Sun

Mark Smith - Saturday March 23

There is no doubting The Autumn Sun's class but the Chris Waller-trained colt also has a fierce will to win, which he needed in spades when the well-named kiwi Arrogant refused to lay down in Saturday's Group 1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m).

With the scratching of Madison County due to an accident in the horse float, The Autumn Sun was at unbackable odds to win his fifth Group 1.

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Racing much closer to the lead than he did in his heart-stopping win in the Hobartville Stakes, Kerrin McEvoy had the son of Redoute's Choice in a challenging position on the turn.


When Arrogant took over from the NZ Derby winner Crown Prosecutor at the 300 metres, The Autumn Sun quickly chimed in and looked set for a comfortable victory. However, Arrogant (Ocean Park) began to rally under Craig Williams but he could not claw back the head advantage with Chapada (Bullet Train) two and a quarter lengths back in third. (images Steve Hart)

"That was a good test the last 200m. The inside horse was laying all over him but he just didn't lie down," Waller said.

"He's a really tough horse. For a horse with so much speed, he won the Golden Rose over 1400 metres, we really tested him today over 2000m and only a champion comes out like he's done.

"I could see as soon as they went 400m it was going to be a really tough staying test and that's the way it worked out. Just look at the margins they've come home in - it was pretty close from winner to second but behind that there were some really tired horses.

"Mr Messara is a good sportsman and that's why the horse was here racing. There was concern earlier in the week whether he should be running on a heavy track because he's still young and not a horse that's fully matured. It's through his sportsmanship that we brought him here and he's a very good horse."
Waller said there had been no decision of the horse's future after today.

"That'll be up to the owners to decide whether he goes to stud. I get the importance of the horse's value, he said.

The Autumn Sun will retire to stand at Arrowfield Stud who's owner John Messara said; "You can tell he didn't enjoy it (today), that was pure guts."

The Autumn Sun advances his record to 8 wins and 1 third from 9 starts with earnings of $3,489,121.

Arrowfield purchased 50 per cent of The Autumn Sun before the Caulfield Guineas.

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.


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