Autumn Glow (AUS)
3 f The Autumn Sun – Via Africa by Var
O: Arrowfield Pastoral Pty Ltd (Mgr: J M Messara) & Hermitage (Mgr: Ms S M Clarke)
B: Newhaven Park
T: Chris Waller
S: 2023 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale V: Silverdale Farm P: Arrowfield Pastoral / Hermitage Thoroughbreds, $1,800,000
W: Schweppes Handicap, 1300m, August 17, Rosehill
The Chris Waller-trained Autumn Glow (The Autumn Sun) showed her enormous talent when she kicked off her career with a breathtaking win at Rosehill on Saturday.
Starting a solidly backed $3.10 chance, the filly travelled on the bridle throughout and swept past five rivals in the opening Benchmark 72 (1300m) to cruise to a 2.5 length win over favourite Dawn Service (Justify), with Iron Hawk (Written Tycoon) another 1.7 lengths away in third.
John Messara, who stands Autumn Glow’s sire The Autumn Sun (Redoute’s Choice) at Arrowfield Stud, said he was so taken by the filly as a yearling that he broke his budget to buy her.
“I’ve never paid $1.8 million for a yearling before, that’s how much we thought of her,” Messara, who races the filly in partnership with Hermitage Thoroughbreds, said. “She was a magnificent yearling, and I just had to have her.
“We knew she was good. We have felt she was well above average for some time so it’s a relief to see her win so well on debut.”
Autumn Glow vindicated Waller’s decision to scratch her from the Randwick-Kensington meeting on Wednesday in preference for the harder Rosehill assignment.
The trainer has no doubt she will measure up to much better races, nominating the Flight Stakes (Gr 1, 1600m) as the most logical target provided she can continue to cope with her first racing preparation.
“Some horses can cope better, some can take the next step,” Waller said. “We would love to get her to the Flight Stakes if we can, but only if we can.
“We have not had her up to top speed at home….But everything she has done has been very special, including her first trial when she wasn’t asked to do anything and still won it.
“She is still six to 12 months away, so it’s exciting going forward.
“You can see something special in her.”
Autumn Glow is a three-quarter sister to Golden Rose (Gr 1, 1400m) winner and now Newgate Farm-based sire In The Congo (Snitzel) with the pair being out of three-time South African Grade 1 scorer Via Africa (Var).
She was the highest-priced yearling sold at last year’s Inglis Australian Easter Sale when consigned by Silverdale Farm, who teamed up with Shrone Bloodstock to purchase the filly for $600,000 from the Newhaven draft at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Weanling Sale in 2022.
The filly’s sire The Autumn Sun will miss the 2024 season as he continues to recover from a pelvic injury.