Five months ago The Autumn Sun posted a historic Australasian Oaks G1 trifecta with Vibrant Sun, Private Legacy & Coco Sun.
On Saturday he quinella-ed the $300,000 ATC Tea Rose Stakes 1400m G2 when star filly Autumn Glow powered to a spectacular victory with Snow In May winding up late to snatch second, ahead of Group 1 winner Manaal and Snitzel’s stakes-winning daughter Lazzura.
It was an outstanding performance by Autumn Glow, who cut out the 1400 metres in 1:22.94, recording 33.25 for the last 600 metres. Unbeaten in three starts including two Group wins, she is now the $1.80 favourite for the $750,000 Flight S. 1600m G1 on 5 October.
Jockey James McDonald said, “She’s very good. She’s just so economical in her action. She’s got a great constitution, good strength about her and a really good mind. She’ll keep improving, too…she’s got all the class in the world. Have a look at her.”
Trainer Chris Waller said, “We rode her a little bit closer today. There were no instructions. We just said to James, ‘Make sure she’s happy and comfortable,’ and James said, ‘She’s got a beautiful action (and) I’m not going to take it away from her.’ So just have her comfortable, and that’s what he did.
“We have not asked her at home because she is still immature. So she does it on race day. She goes home and she is looked after. So you see just as much as I.”
“So we are just taking her quietly. She is improving with each run, being trained that way. We have got one race to go. I do not think we will go too far beyond that.”
Autumn Glow was bred by Newhaven Park Stud from South Africa’s Champion Sprinter Via Africa (by Storm Cat’s grandson Var), also the dam of Snitzel’s Group 1-winning son In The Congo, now standing at Newgate Farm. Via Africa’s only other daughter Protea is due to foal to Dundeel this Spring.
Steve & Eliza Grant’s Silverdale Farm & Brian McGuire’s Shrone Bloodstock signed for the filly as a $600,000 weanling from Newhaven Park at the Magic Millions National Weanling Sale.
Silverdale then offered Autumn Glow at Inglis Easter 2023 where she was knocked down for a sale-topping $1.8 million to Arrowfield & Hermitage Thoroughbreds who now race the filly in partnership.
Snow In May (ex See You Soon by Siyouni) was bred by Woodpark Stud and purchased for $150,000 from Attunga Stud’s Inglis Easter draft by trainer John O’Shea and agent Suman Hedge. She is now an $8 chance in the Flight Stakes.
The Tea Rose quinella has added $236,000 to The Autumn Sun’s season earnings, propelling him to the head of the Third Season Sires’ list and 5th spot on the Australian 3YO Sires’ table.
– Arrowfield Stud
