Master trainer Chris Waller made it four Caulfield Guineas across the past decade when his son-of-a-gun colt Autumn Boy emulated his sire The Autumn Sun by winning the $3m stallion-making race on Saturday.
An emotional Waller said he was always confident the star three-year-old would respond after a luckless Golden Rose performance as he heaped praise on hoop Damian Lane when the pair combined for back-to-back Caulfield Guineas wins.
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The pair won the same race with Private Life last year, and Waller is confident Autumn Boy ($4.20) can go on to even better things in the future after holding off Planet Red ($31) by three-quarters-of-a-length, with Observer ($20) in third place.
But Waller said he was almost certain to resist the temptation of backing up Autumn Boy in Saturday fortnight’s $6m Cox Plate.
“I’m not sure, I don’t normally do,” Waller said when asked if the three-year-old could take on his stablemate Via Sistina in the Cox Plate.
“They are still babies. He has only had five starts, it would be unlikely for us. But we will see what comes out next week.
“We have the luxury of sitting back (and waiting). He is not overly raced, so you can do it, but we will have to see how good Via Sistina is going.”
LIKE FATHER LIKE SON ☀️
Autumn Boy wins a dramatic Caulfield Guineas, joining his sire The Autumn Sun as a Guineas Champion! Damian Lane and Chris Waller go back-to-back in the 3YO Classic 🤝 pic.twitter.com/XztL6fOBNU
— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) October 11, 2025
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Waller said it was special to have prepared a son of his 2018 Caulfield Guineas winner The Autumn Sun to win the same race, having also had a daughter of the same stallion – Autumn Glow – win last week’s Epsom Handicap.
Incredibly, The Autumn Sun’s own sire, Redoute’s Choice, won the 1999 Caulfield Guineas.
“We’re proud of all the horses that come through the stable. But when we’ve got champions like The Autumn Sun and we’ve got (his) sons and daughters, it’s pretty special,” Waller said.
“Last week, it was Autumn Glow, now it’s a super colt with Autumn Boy, it’s pretty special.
“We have been looking to try and find that horse that replicates The Autumn Sun. (Bloodstock agent) Guy Mulcaster, who buys our horses, found him (Autumn Boy) and as soon as I saw him, I thought he was perfect.
“We took him to Queensland (in June) and gave him a trip away. I think we did that with his dad as well, maybe all of our Caulfield Guineas winners.
“It’s just about experience, we know they’ve got talent and (it’s just about) harnessing that.”
Damian Lane and Chris Waller with the Caulfield Guineas trophy. Picture: Getty Images
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Autumn Boy was purchased at last year’s Gold Coast Magic Millions sales for $200,000.
He has won $2m in prizemoney and has now guaranteed a multi-million stud future deep into the future.
Waller’s other Guineas runner, Wodeton, who started as $2.80 favourite with James McDonald aboard, finished 10th, with stewards reporting after the race he was lame.
Lane said of Autumn Boy: “(He’s a) beautiful colt just takes everything in his stride … (he has a) great turn of foot when needed.
“I had a great run. I was able to use my barrier speed, was good, and just found myself in a bit of a tricky spot in the corner. But once I navigated that, he put the race away pretty quick. Very easy horse to handle, and as a result, had a nice run.”
Waller described Lane as “a world-class sportsman. He’s just an ultimate professional. To be able to align with someone like that makes my job so much easier.”