Autumn Glow preserves unbeaten record
Autumn Glow (3 f The Autumn Sun – Via Africa by Var) took her unbeaten record to four when she gamely landed the Darby Munro Stakes (Listed, 1200m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
Having been off the track since winning her opening three starts last year, including the Tea Rose Stakes (Gr 2, 1400m) and Up And Coming Stakes (Gr 3, 1300m), the Chris Waller-trained filly found plenty under pressure for James McDonald as she downed Godolphin colt Enriched (I Am Invincible).
The Team Hawkes-trained Gangsta Granny (Written Tycoon) finished third, a further 1.8 lengths behind.
“I think it’s exciting and we don’t know about her, so we’re still learning about what her best distance is,” Waller said.
“Her dad [The Autumn Sun] was a champion in my eyes and he got out to 2000 metres, but she’s got so much speed; she’s out of a champion mare from South Africa who had speed, so we’re going to find a happy spot in between and James will obviously tell us a lot today.
“There’s a little bit of pressure on us today, so we asked her to perform and she duly did… done a fantastic job.”
Next month’s $1 million Arrowfield Stud Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m) at Randwick is the likely next target for the filly according to Waller.
“I think I’ll need a little bit of help to persuade not to run in the Arrowfield because obviously the Arrowfield connection, but logically it does look a nice race in three weeks’ time over 1200 metres,” Waller added.