This became a genuine contest, a tactically compelling race, and rival riders didn’t make it easy for Autumn Glow but, as champions do, she found a way to win.
Autumn Glow was forced to lead, was challenged on the turn but accelerated clear of her rivals to score an exciting win in the Group 2 $1 million Seven Sunrise Stakes (1600m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
The reigning Horse of the Year might have been virtually unbackable at $1.16 and was expected to win what many expected would be a sit-and-sprint affair against just four rivals.
But this became a serious race and Autumn Glow needed to run a fast Randwick mile in 1m 33.78s to win, her margin of one-and-a-quarter lengths not truly reflective of her dominance.
Hall of Fame trainer Chris Waller said he discussed tactics with jockey James McDonald pre-race and both men were aware Autumn Glow might have to make all from the front.
“James said we might end up in front and Nash (Rawiller, Gringotts) might be there,” Waller said.
“We both decided we will just play it as it comes, (the tactic discussion) nothing too serious, just settling the nerves really.
“But it was good to watch and showed how versatile she is, like she can put herself there or can go back, she just has a great turn of foot.
“I know she was the short priced favourite but the horses in this race are all handy horses.
“There was a sprint from the 500m when it got serious so it was good to see her lift and draw clear in the end.”
Autumn Glow ($1.16) was briefly under siege coming over the rise as Gringotts, Ceolwulf and Idle Flyer made early moves to pressure her, but the champion mare drew away and won quite comfortably on the line.
Aeliana ($21) burst through near the rails late in the race to finish a very good second, a half-neck in front of Ceolwulf ($15).
Idle Flyer was a neck away fourth and Gringotts finished alongside the placegetters, with only two lengths separating first to last in the five-horse field.
Autumn Glow improved her race record to 13 wins and a third placing from 14 starts for career earnings of nearly $10 million, but watching her win is never just routine.
She is racing “box office” and had more than 10,000 on track at Royal Randwick happy they were there to cheer the mighty mare to the finish.
McDonald said he had an open mind about how to ride Autumn Glow in the small field and it wasn’t necessarily his plan to lead.
“I’d have been happy in three positions – first, second or third,” McDonald said.
“But once I got control, she just did it herself. She will jump out of the ground third-up.
“She went three quarter pace around then dashed home. They came after me, you probably could say they got to her at the top of the straight, but I let her balance up and she went away with it.
“She did what we needed her to do today. She had fun doing it – ears pricked the whole way.”
Owner John Messara maintains this could be Autumn Glow’s best season of racing and it is hard to argue on the evidence of her wins in the Winx Stakes and Seven Sunrise Stakes to start her five-year-old season.
“Autumn Glow showed us today how versatile she is, she ran a very sharp time overall and I would say it was one of her better wins,” Messara said.
“I suspect James McDonald had a fair bit left in the ‘petrol tank’, too.
“There is improvement to come because her coat is not quite there yet but it will be perfect for King Charles Day.”
Messara describes Autumn Glow as the best horse he has owned and revealed he isn’t as concerned about race results now.
“I worry less now because she has won so many races but it is always a relief when the race is over,” Messara said.
“I no longer worry about winning or losing, we are more worried about the mare and the jockey coming through the race safely.”
Waller, who watched the race in the trainer’s room and praised ace broadcaster Darren Flindell’s race call by describing it as “amazing”, said Autumn Glow will peak for the Group 1 $5 million King Charles III Stakes (1600m) at Royal Randwick on October 17.
“I’m pretty happy where Autumn Glow is at but there is some improvement to come, we haven’t screwed her down yet,” Waller said.
“We will just look after her and she will do the rest.”
Waller, who also celebrated the Group 1 wins of Angel Capital in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes and Birdman in the Underwood Stakes at Caulfield, said he has no regrets about the decision to target the King Charles III Stakes and not the Group 1 $20 million The Everest (1200m) on the same day.
“I’m happy and comfortable with the decision (to go to the King Charles III Stakes),” Waller said.
“I don’t have second thoughts, once we make a decision as a group, the ownership, jockey, my team, we run with it.
“I hope it is a great contest and if something beats Ka Ying Rising, good luck to them.”
Waller trained the Seven Sunrise Stakes quinella with Aeliana finishing strongly for second.
“That was just as satisfying, if not more satisfying,” Waller said.
“There was nothing wrong with her first up run, Nash got off her last start and said she is going great but the way the race was run, she just couldn’t get into it.
“It was good to see her acquit herself well today. If she had run third or fourth I would have said good run but to see her push through the last 50m was great.”
Autumn Glow won’t race again until the King Charles, while Aeliana is expected to line up next in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on October 3.
Ceolwulf, Idle Flyer and Gringotts ran very competitively and may clash again on October 3 in the Group 1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Royal Randwick.
