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First Stakes Winner for The Autumn Sun as Autumn Ballet Creates History in Black Opal

Mark Smith - Sunday March 12

A quinella for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott in the Group III John McGrath Auto Black Opal Stakes (1200m) at Canberra on Sunday as Autumn Ballet created history in winning the feature on debut and in the process credited The Autumn Sun with his first stakes-winner.

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Ridden by Tim Clark, Autumn Ballet tracked stablemate The Years (Time Test), before taking command at the 250m to win by two lengths. Make A Call (Extreme Choice) was length back in third.

"Gai is here to break records. Gai and Adrian, what a terrific partnership, to be able to get this filly to the race and win first-up” stable representative Neil Paine said.

“Our stable is enjoying a terrific run with the two-year-olds.

“Tim rode that beautiful and we got the quinella.”  

‘A $340,000 purchase for Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott / Kestrel Thoroughbreds from the Arrowfield Stud draft at the 2022 Inglis Australian Easter, Autumn Ballet runs for a syndicate headed by Nick Vass.

Autumn Ballet a $340,000 Inglis Easter Yearling

The daughter of The Autumn Sun is the second winner from as many to race out of the Street Cry (IRE) mare Grisi.

Placed at Newcastle in a 2-start career, Grisi is a half-sister to Group II Meydan Zabeel Mile winner Zakouski (Shamardal), Group III Up and Coming Stakes winner and Group 1 Golden Rose runner-up Albrecht (Redoute’s Choice), and Group III Prix Thomas Bryon winner King’s Command (Dubawi).

Grisi’s dam O’Giselle (Octagonal) is a sister to champion racehorse and sire Lonhro.

Arrowfield Stud consigns a full-sister to the Black Opal winner to the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale in April (lot 157).

Grisi foaled a colt by The Autumn Sun last spring.

A 5-time Group 1 winning son of Redoute’s Choice, The Autumn Sun stands at Arrowfield Stud for a fee of $66,000.

  

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Race Result - John McGrath Auto Black Opal Gr3 1200m

Canberra Track: Soft(5) Time: 1:10.06
1
Autumn Ballet
- 2f The Autumn Sun (AUS) x Grisi (AUS) (Street Cry (IRE))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: Tim Clark 54
2
2.0
The Years
- 2c Time Test (GB) x Joy Anna (NZ) (Iffraaj (GB))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: Regan Bayliss 56
3
3.0
Make A Call
- 2c Extreme Choice (AUS) x To Dubawi Go (AUS) (Dubawi (IRE))
Tnr: P & P Snowden Rdr: S Clipperton 56
4
3.4
Tiz Invincible
- 2f I Am Invincible (AUS) x Amuletum (GB) (New Approach (IRE))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: M J Dee 54
5
3.5
Disneck
- 2c Trapeze Artist (AUS) x Lindisfarne (USA) (City Zip (USA))
Tnr: Bjorn Baker Rdr: Rachel King 57
6
5.7
Madeira Sunrise
- 2f I Am Invincible (AUS) x Indrabeel (NZ) (Savabeel (AUS))
Tnr: Michael Freedman Rdr: K S Latham 55
7
6.5
Cap Ferrat
- 2c Snitzel (AUS) x C'Est Beau La Vie (AUS) (Bernardini (USA))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: J B Mc Donald 56
8
7.2
Love Shuck
- 2g Mikki Isle (JPN) x Oyster Bell (AUS) (Magic Albert (AUS))
Tnr: Todd Smart Rdr: J Ford 56
9
8.9
Chop The Ice
- 2g Santos (AUS) x Lady Ice (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: G P Vella Rdr: S Guymer 56
10
15.6
Lady Jezam
- 2f Written By (AUS) x My Last Fling (AUS) (Sebring (AUS))
Tnr: G Portelli Rdr: Tyler Schiller 54
11
16.6
Legolas
- 2g Capitalist (AUS) x Elfee (NZ) (Iffraaj (GB))
Tnr: Bjorn Baker Rdr: Brock Ryan 56
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