It might not get the recognition of G1 status, but the $10million ATC Golden Eagle (1500m) at Randwick this Saturday has the form on the board and this year’s winner Autumn Glow is something seriously special.
A last start winner of the Group I ATC Epsom Handicap (1600m), the Chris Waller trained daughter of The Autumn Sun was shooting for her eighth win in a row with a slow track bordering on heavy and a big field of 16 making her task all the more formidable.
She did what champions do and that is find a way to win even when the going gets tough.
When James McDonald asked her for her best, Autumn Glow delivered and forged clear to win by more than a length over Sepals, who won the Group I MRC Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes two starts back.
Chris Waller is familiar with making good horses into champions and there is no doubting he believes Autumn Glow is still a work in progress and what her future holds is anybody’s guess.
"Autumn Glow is a star, it is as simple as that," he said.
"She does it each and every time. There is nothing that shows us that much at home – that heart and determination and presence that she has is really quite special.
"Today's race was tricky. We could see the track was hard to get a handle on, some horses aren't getting through the going as well as you would like, horses on pace were dominating.
"So, we knew we had to be a bit closer and they were running fast through the midstages, and James was at her to stay with them.
"For her to come out as Darren Flindell said to ‘open the shoulders' was pretty special to watch."
Taking her unbeaten run to eight wins with $7.3million in earnings, Autumn Glow has justified her sale ring credentials. She topped Inglis Easter when bought for $1.8million by Arrowfield Pastoral and Hermitage Thoroughbreds from the Silverdale Farm draft.
Bred and sold by Newhaven Park Stud to Silverdale Farm and Shrone Bloodstock for $600,000 at the Magic Millions National Weanling Sale, she topped that sale too!
Autumn Glow is one of three winners, and two individual Group 1 winners from three to the races out of South African Champion Sprinter, and multiple Group 1 winner Via Africa (Var).
Autumn Glow is a three-quarter-sister to Newgate Farm’s Group 1 ATC Golden Rose Stakes winner In The Congo (Snitzel), whose second crop foals are arriving this spring.
Unfortunately, Via Africa’s breeding career has not gone to plan since foaling the unbeaten mare, having not produced a foal in the subsequent four season, although she is currently up at Widden stud with the goal of a successful mating with Zoustar.
Autumn Glow is the best of 10 stakes winners for her Arrowfield Stud based The Autumn Sun who is standing this season at a fee of $66,000 (inc. GST).
Chris Waller trained The Autumn Sun throughout his career and it's probably no coincidence that he now trains his two best in Autumn Glow and Autumn Boy.
