By The ANZ Bloodstock News Team
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The Chris Waller-trained Autumn Glow (4 m The Autumn Sun – Via Africa by Var) moved her unbeaten record to six when she produced an impressive performance to win the Theo Marks Stakes (Gr 2, 1300m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
Ridden by Kerrin McEvoy, the $1.8 million Easter purchase never looked in any danger of surrendering her perfect record, eventually crossing the line 2.2 lengths ahead of General Salute (Russian Revolution). Pier (Proisir) came home a further 1.7 lengths away in third.
While the Epsom Handicap (Gr 1, 1600m) at Randwick on October 4 remains the mare’s main target, Waller’s assistant trainer Charlie Duckworth said the handicapper’s assessment would ultimately determine if she pressed on to that Group 1 or not.
“She’s got to be the best horse in training who is yet to win a Group 1, which is the one thing that’s missing off her resume, but I’m sure that will come,” Duckworth said.
“The target was the Epsom so it will be interesting to see what weight she gets in that.
“She is still very lightly raced and continuing to improve. What her optimum distance is, is yet to be seen. She has got endless gears.
“She must have almost given Kerrin a fright how quickly she quickened up around the home turn. She is just electric.
“I don’t think he even asked her, I think he might have just been thinking about asking her and then she took off.”
When asked whether he thought Autumn Glow would be better suited to the mile of an Epsom Handicap or brought back in distance for The Everest, McEvoy was convinced she could do either.
“I think she’ll stay further but she’s got a motor as well,” McEvoy said.
“I’m sure Chris and the team will make the right call. Probably a mile because then I might be in with a chance to ride her.”
Silverdale and Shrone Bloodstock purchased Autumn Glow from her breeders Newhaven at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Weanling Sale for $600,000 in 2022, before selling her to co-owners Arrowfield Pastoral and Hermitage Thoroughbreds for a sale-topping $1.8 million the following year.
Silverdale’s Steve Grant said: “She was enormous, she’s very special and she’s only going to get better and better, that’s the best part.
“She’s such a professional and always has been. We’ve got a photo of her here after we got her to the farm and you could tell straight away she’s a thinker, such a kind and settled filly, even back then. If you go back to one of the Inglis videos either before or just after she sold at Easter, Rob [Petith] said she’s the most special horse he’d ever taken to a sale.
“I’m so happy for John Messara and the Arrowfield team and Hermitage, from our point of view we’re there to sell and it’s great to see people doing well with them, that’s what we want.’’