Autumn Glow gave Chris Waller something to think about with an impressive trial at Randwick on Monday morning.
The unbeaten filly ambled into third placing, beaten 2-1/2 lengths by dual Group 2 winner Schwarz, but was not urged at any point by jockey Zac Lloyd in the 1050-metre trial.
The daughter of The Autumn Sun is one of up to five runners for Waller in Saturday’s Group 1 Surround Stakes at Randwick, but the trainer will monitor her in coming days before deciding whether to tackle Lady Shenandoah in the $750,000 event over 1400 metres.
“If she’s not ready to run in the Surround and beat Lady Shenandoah we probably won’t run,” Waller said.
Autumn Glow has not started since taking her record to three wins from as many starts in the Group 2 Tea Rose Stakes (1400m) on September 21 and Monday’s hitout was her second trial of the campaign, following a leisurely sixth placing at Warwick Farm on February 11.
The $1.8 million yearling was scratched from last spring’s Group 1 Flight Stakes in the days leading up to that event after suffering a knee injury that required surgery, paving the way for Lady Shenandoah to score a brilliant win in that 1600m event.
Lady Shenandoah resumed with a brilliant win in the Group 2 Light Fingers Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on February 15.
Amelita, Delichy Boulevard and Lazzura are Waller’s other likely starters in the Surround Stakes, but they might be hard-pressed to beat Lady Shenandoah.
“She’s probably our number one seed, she’s resumed with a run, she was dominant, as she was in the spring, and it will be hard for the others to beat her,” Waller said of Lady Shenandoah.
“But, there will be some improvement with the others. If they appreciate the 1400 metres then maybe they can beat Lady Shenandoah, but she’s certainly the benchmark.”
Waller also holds the whip hand in Saturday’s other Group 1 at Randwick, the $1 million Verry Elleegant Stakes (1600m), which will feature the rematch between Fangirl and Via Sistina.
Lindermann, the horse who split Fangirl and Via Sistina in the Apollo Stakes, will also run, along with resuming stablemate Land Legend, while Joe Pride’s Ceolwulf is the other high-profile runner.
