Autumn Glow is at Winx-like odds to win the $1 million 7 Stakes at Randwick, and while connections fully expect her to justify her short quote, they are wary of the perils a small field can present.
Chris Waller has scratched stablemates Lindermann and Lady Shenandoah in preference for Group 1 assignments in Melbourne, leaving Autum Glow with just four rivals.
All are proven at racing’s highest level and Waller’s assistant trainer, Charlie Duckworth, admits the small 7 Stakes (1600m) field isn’t necessarily a good thing.
“It’s probably worse. It’s obviously going to make it more tactical,” Duckworth said.
“If she runs the same figures then she should win, but if she gets cluttered up… you see more hard luck stories in a small field than you do in a field of sixteen.
“We’ve just got to weigh up exactly how she gets ridden. She is very adaptable. You can ride her from anywhere. You can take luck out of the equation and going forward is obviously an option, and then you make your own luck.”
When asked whether connections would rule out leading on Autumn Glow, Duckworth said all options would be on the table.
“I don’t think so at all. She has gone forward in the past and been happy enough to cruise up close to the speed,” he said.
Winx started odds-on in 31 of her 43 starts, her shortest quote being $1.05 when she won the 2019 George Ryder Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill.
Autumn Glow has started in the red in 10 of her 13 appearances and is set to go around at her skinniest price yet on Saturday.
The next horse in the market is Gringotts at $9, while Autumn Glow’s barn mate, Aeliana, is a $15 chance and will take her place after being withdrawn from the Underwood Stakes (1800m) in Melbourne.
The mare disappointed first-up when she failed to beat a rival home in the Winx Stakes (1400m), but with a less hectic tempo at Randwick, the stable is expecting a much-improved showing.
However, Duckworth noted Aeliana was still to fully bloom in the coat and Sydney’s slightly milder climate was a factor in her remaining closer to home for another run.
“Chris is just conscious of Aeliana. She takes forever to lose that winter coat and while there’s a bit more warmth up here, we’ll keep her up here for another couple of weeks before ultimately heading down for a Cox Plate,” Duckworth said.
Saturday will be just the fourth running of the 7 Stakes (1600m) with the Kerry Parker-trained Think It Over winning the inaugural instalment in 2023 and Waller’s Fangirl capturing the past two editions.
