Not only emulating the success of his sire The Autumn Sun by winning the $3m Group 1 MRC Caulfield Guineas (1600m), who could forget the epic battle between Testa Rossa and Autumn Boy’s grandsire Redoute’s Choice in the 1999 running of the time-honoured stallion-making race.
Making a winning debut as a late 2yo, Autumn Boy then headed to Queensland where he won the Listed Tattersalls Stakes (1400m) at Eagle Farm. Put away after that the win, many were touting the colt as something special, and while it took another three runs, they were right.
Second at his first start at 3 in the Group 3 ATC Ming Dynasty Quality (1400m), not all went to plan in the Group 1 ATC Golden Rose (1400m) where his stablemate ran away with the race, but the confidence was clearly strong leading into the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas where he was backed to start one of the favourites.
With Damian Lane in the saddle for the first time, the Chris Waller trained colt jumped away well from barrier one with last start Group 2 Stutt Stakes winner West Of Swindon (Wootton Bassett) going forward to cross the field and take up the running, where he was being tracked by his stablemate Observer (Ghaiyyath) in third.
From the inside barrier it allowed Lane to settle Autumn Boy closer than normal with the colt was in fifth place about two lengths off Group 1-winning juvenile Vinrock (I Am Invincible) who was in fourth.
At the 600m mark when the runs were starting to come, with race favourite Wodeton (Wootton Bassett) was some 12 lengths from the leader with plenty to do.
Into the home turn, Observer went for a run between the leading pair but things didn’t go to plan for jockey Ethan Brown as Lane accelerated down the outside of the field aboard Autumn Boy.
Making up ground late down the outside, last start Group 3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude third placed Planet Red (Admire Mars) ran into second, while Observer had to come around the tiring leaders to make another run, finishing third in what a good pointer for further distance.
Securing back-to-back victories for Waller and Lane after last year’s win by Private Life (Snitzel), Autumn Boy’s owner Glenn Ritchie has been a long-time supporter of the Waller camp.
“We're proud of all the horses that come through the stable,” said Waller. “But when we’ve got champions like The Autumn Sun and we’ve got sons and daughters, it's pretty special.”
“Last week, Autumn Glow, now it's a super colt with Autumn Boy; it's pretty special.”
With this being his target race, Waller is unsure if he will head towards another race or not.
“That looked his race,” said Waller. “We like to just identify talent and then try and get them to that big ticket item.
“Today's such an important race in the horse's career, a colt who announces them on the big stage. Glenn Ritchie and his wife, they've been so supportive of us, Charlie and myself.
“They've become good friends of ours and kept investing, kept investing, and we've managed to buy them a really nice horse.”
When queried if he was concerned after the Golden Rose effort, Waller felt the winning effort of stablemate Beiwacht was full of merit.
“It was a track record time,” said Waller. “Full credit to the winner, he led them up and won. The backmarkers just didn't quite get us the race because we were just running so quick.
“We didn't lose faith, the ratings people and our form guys said he’s the one, and sure enough, they were right.”
“The sectional timings suggested he actually ran quite well. It was his first time in the big dance or the big-time races. He's come through the run well; he's come down here with plenty of time.
“The team down here have done a great job. We brought him to Caulfield; we ticked all the boxes, everything suggested he was ready to run a big race.”
Having always shown good ability, Autumn Boy’s performance cements the thoughts of the stable
“I think you just consistently get feedback from your team,” said Waller. “As a young horse before he even trialled, we were getting positive feedback.
“When he trialled, it was positive. When he had his first run, he beat a short-price favourite from the stable at a big price.
“Everything's been positive, we took him to Queensland and gave him a trip away. I think we did that with his dad as well, maybe all of our Caulfield Guineas winners. It's just about experience, we know they’ve got talent and harnessing that.”
As for what the plans are moving forward with the colt, Waller wants the dust to settle before a decision is made, especially in relation to a race like the Cox Plate.
“Not sure,” said Waller. “I don’t normally because they’re still babies.”
“He's only had four or five starts, I think. So, it'll be unlikely for us, but we'll see what comes out next week, you've got the luxury of just sitting tight.
“He’s not overly raced so you can do it but we’ll have to see how good Via Sistina’s going.”
Recording consecutive Guineas win, Lane was clearly complementary of Autumn Boy.
“Beautiful colt just takes everything in his stride, very easy to deal with and a great turn of foot when needed,” said Lane.
“So you need that to win these big races, and when he joined in, he really joined in.”
“I had a great run. I was able to use my barrier speed, was good, and just found myself in a bit of a tricky spot in the corner.
“But once I navigated that, he put the race away pretty quick. Very easy horse to handle, and as a result, had a nice run.”
Becoming the second Group 1 winner in the space of a week for the Waller as well as his former Champion 3yo Colt The Autumn Sun after last Saturday’s Epsom victory of Autumn Glow, Autumn Boy’s victory took his overall record to three wins and a second from five starts with earnings of $2,010,000.
Bred by Richard Rutherford and purchased from the Amarina Farm draft at the Magic Millions yearling sale for $200,000 by his trainer as well as Mulcaster Bloodstock, Autumn Boy is one of two winners, and first Group 1 winner from three to race out of the unraced Savabeel mare Rosegarden (NZ), from the extended family of Group 1 winner and Group 1 sire Shamexpress (O’Reilly), himself the sire of The Everest favourite Ka Ying Rising (NZ).
Rosegarden has a 2yo colt by Yarraman Park’s Hellbent, and after not being covered the following season, produced a filly by Hellbent just over a month ago.
Autumn Boy is one of nine stakes winners, five of which are Group 1 winners, for his Arrowfield Stud based The Autumn Sun (Redoute's Choice) who is standing this season at a fee of $66,000 (inc. GST).
