The first race at Warwick Farm on Wednesday is a juvenile maiden which holds plenty of interest featuring the first runner for The Autumn Sun, a Melbourne trained filly with Magic Millions aspirations and a rare Godolphin homebred by Zoustar.
Race favourite is the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained colt Deciduous, who looked good winning his second barrier trial and is seeking to make a perfect start at stud for his sire The Autumn Sun, a champion son Redoute’s Choice looking to follow in his father’s footsteps at Arrowfield Stud.
Godolphin send a small number of mares to outside sires each year and one of those was Group placed Medaglia D’Oro (USA) mare Matilija, who was covered by Widden Stud’s champion sire Zoustar in 2019.
The result is promising colt Los Padres, who has placed at each of his trials and is a half-brother to quality Group placed filly Ojai, who was fourth in the Silver Slipper and contested the Golden Slipper earlier this year.
Mornington trainer Matt Laurie will be hoping for a good showing from his Shalaa (IRE) filly Chilled, who showed good talent with an easy Rosehill trial win last month and has the benefit of gate one.
Chilled is bred to get going early being the first foal of Pierro mare Sauvignon, whose dam is a three-quarter sister-in-blood to Group I MRC Blue Diamond Stakes winner Catchy.
Shalaa had 14 juvenile winners last season, three of them stakes-winners and three more stakes-placed so it’s not hard to see why connections are hopeful about the prospects of Chilled.
