| Superstar mare Autumn Glow made it 14 wins from 15 starts with a soft win in Saturday’s $5 million King Charles III Stakes (1600m) at Randwick. |
| The daughter of The Autumn Sun again left her rivals in her wake and in the process notched a fifth career Group One success. With her usual rider James McDonald in the saddle, Autumn Glow cruised through the race and her latest success was both impressive and comprehensive. At the post she held a two and a quarter length margin over second favourite and twice defending champion Ceolwulf. As expected the remaining three horses fought out the minor placings a further seven and a quarter lengths back. The $1.26 hot favourite, a Magic Millions Gold Coast National Weanling Sale buy, is trained by Chris Waller and not surprisingly he was again proud of the star of his stable. “Her work has been fantastic, she is an absolute professional,” Waller noted. “We asked her to do a bit more work during the week expecting a wet track and more speed in the race. But she took it all in stride and came out and did that today.” “In modern day racing we have seen quite a few times this spring with tearaway leaders so we have to have them a little bit fitter.” “But it doesn’t matter how you train her, we just keep it simple and she trains herself. It has been an honour to be working with some great horses.” Waller said he would take a breath and speak with her ownership group before concluding whether she heads to Melbourne for the Flemington Cup Carnival. A run in the Champions Mile is on the radar. “We will have a chat with Mr Messara and Hermitage and see what they want to do. But we also want to make sure she has a long career so we want to look after her. “She will go to the paddock for three days or so and we will enjoy the win,” Waller summed up. Autumn Glow was the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast National Weanling Sale top seller when she realised $600,000. She was offered by breeder, the Kelly family’s famed Newhaven Park, and was secured by Silverdale Farm in partnership with Brian McGuire’s Shrone Bloodstock. As it stands the mighty mare has earned a staggering $12.8 million for her connections led by owners Arrowfield Pastoral and Hermitage. “Lobbed into a good spot,” winning rider James McDonald said of the run. “I clicked her up at the 600m. I wanted to open her up today.” “(She) hasn’t had a lung buster for a few starts. I opened her up and she got to the line. Was waiting for Ceolwulf with his blinkers on, he never came.” McDonald said the mare was a versatile performer – her quality carried her so far. “1200m, 1400m, a mile,” he stated when asked what Autumn Glow’s best distance was. A daughter of Arrowfield’s The Autumn Sun (Redoute’s Choice), Autumn Glow is from the former star South African mare Via Africa (Var). As well as being a triple Group One winner with elite level wins at Kenilworth and Scottsville, Via Africa had made a name for herself as an elite producer. Autumn Glow isn’t the only Group One winner she has produced. She is also dam of In the Congo (Snitzel), a Golden Rose Stakes winner and exciting young sire. Her other runner is the six time Hong Kong winner Pleasant Endeavor (Redoute’s Choice). Winner: Autumn Glow Breeding: The Autumn Sun-Via Africa (Var) Race: ATC King Charles III Stakes G1 (1600m) Sold for: $600,000 Sale: 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast National Weanling Sale Earnings: $12,821,600 Breeder: Newhaven Park Stud Vendor: Newhaven Park Buyer: Silverdale Farm & Shrone Bloodstock Owners: Arrowfield Pastoral Pty Ltd (Mgr: JM Messara) & Hermitage (Mgr: Ms SM Clarke) Trainer: Chris Waller (Rosehill) |
