After becoming the first filly to win the Group III Up And Coming Stakes, Autumn Glow remained undefeated when delivering a no-fuss win over a quality field of 3-year-old fillies in Saturday’s Group II Darley Tea Rose Stakes (1400m) at Randwick.
Ridden by James McDonald for Chris Waller, the daughter of The Autumn Sun travelled sweetly on the outside of Manaal before hitting the front at the 300m.
Kept up to her work under hands and heels, Autumn Glow was one and a quarter lengths too good for another progressive daughter of The Autumn Sun, Snow In May, who lost her unbeaten record after wins at Wagga and Newcastle.
The Group 1 winning Tassort filly Manaal was a nose back in third.
“We rode her a little bit closer today. There were no instructions,” Chris Waller revealed.
“We just said to James to make sure she's happy and comfortable. James said she has a beautiful action, I'm not going to take it away from her.
“She's probably a little bit foreign in that territory, but she's all class. And if we get a perfect draw in the Flight Stakes, we can go back to riding her where we need to if she's comfortable.
“We're scared to ask too much at home, which could mean the end of her preparation.
“So we're just taking her quietly. She's improving with each run, being trained that way. We've got one race to go. I don't think we'll go too far beyond that.
“She's the spitting image of a dad.”
James McDonald said Autumn Glow has all the qualities to reach the top.
“She's very good, has an economical action, a great constitution, good strength about her (and a) really good mind, McDonald said.
She'll keep improving, too.”
Bred by Newhaven Park Stud, Autumn Glow was a $600,000 pinhook for Silverdale Farm/Shrone Bloodstock at the 2022 Magic Millions National Weanling Sale.
Silverdale consigned the daughter of The Autumn Sun to the 2023 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, where Arrowfield Pastoral / Hermitage Thoroughbreds had the final say at a sale-topping $1,800,000.
A three-quarter-sister to Newgate Farm’s Group 1 ATC Golden Rose Stakes winner In The Congo (Snitzel) and to the talented Hong Kong performer Pleasant Endeavor (Redoute’s Choice), Autumn Glow is the third winner from as many to race for the Champion Sprinter in South Africa in 2013-14, Via Africa (SAF).
The daughter of the Forest Wildcat stallion Var won ten races highlighted by the Group 1 Scottsville South African Fillies Sprint (twice), and the Kenilworth Cape Flying Championship.
Via Africa has not had a live foal since Autumn Glow and she was not covered last year.
Newhaven Park consigned Via Africa to the Inglis Chairman’s Sale in May, but she failed to make her $600,000 reserve.
