By Craig Kerry
James McDonald said it was “extremely special” to ride Autumn Glow after the unbeaten star aced her first weight-for-age test under a hands-and-heels effort in the group 2 Apollo Stakes (1400m) on Saturday at Randwick.
A $1.40 favourite, the four-year-old came from a one-one sit to cruise past leader The Instructor at the 200m mark on the way to an effortless two and three-quarter length victory from stablemates Aeliana and Lindermann, stretching her perfect record to nine.
Autumn Glow cruises to victory in the Apollo Stakes.Credit: Getty Images
Trainer Chris Waller said the Epsom Handicap and Golden Eagle winner would next race at group 1 level in the Verry Elleegant (1600m) and George Ryder Stakes (1500m), before either stretching to 2000m in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes or going to Queen Of The Turf (1600m).
“The first run of the prep is the most important,” Waller said.
“It tells you where they are. You can have as many track gallops, trials and exhibition gallops as you want but until they are under race pressure, you don’t know, but that tells me she’s in a pretty good position.”
McDonald said only Anamoe and Hong Kong star Romantic Warrior have shown him the same demeanour, class and ability.
James McDonald after Autumn Glow’s win.Credit: Getty Images
“It’s extremely special, just the way, the ease she’s doing it,” McDonald said of Autumn Glow.
“But you’ve got to remember, though, there’s a lot of stayers in the race, but I’ve ridden a very good horse in Hong Kong and she’s on a trajectory where she’s improving all the time. She’s lightly raced and let’s just say, the world’s her oyster.”
McDonald had a treble, also winning on Joliestar in the Expressway and Mal Coupe in the Midway.
The Apollo was marred by the discovery of blood in both nostrils of Joe Pride-trained Ceolwulf, which came sixth. Pride requested an endoscopic examination of his four-time group 1 winner, which will serve a three-month suspension from racing if found to have suffered a bleeding attack.
The potential blow was softened in the next race when Pride’s Weeping Woman won the group 3 Triscay Stakes under Tim Clark.
Joliestar still Royal material
Chris Waller’s hopes of taking Joliestar to Royal Ascot in June strengthened after she proved she was still his stable’s best sprinter with a sweeping finish to claim the group 2 Expressway Stakes (1200m).
Waller’s Everest trio from last year, Joliestar, Angel Capital and Lady Shenandoah, resumed in the Expressway, which attracted just six runners.
Bjorn Baker’s Caballus led and pinched a two-length gap before Joliestar surged past at the 50m for a one and a quarter length win. Lady Shenandoah was third and Angel Capital, which played up in the gates, was fourth.
Waller said Joliestar, a five-year-old mare and three-time group 1-winner, would have two more runs in Sydney before heading to England.
“She’s a fool-proof horse, she runs well fresh, which will hopefully be the autumn,” Waller said.
“Canterbury Stakes, TJ [Smith Stakes] and she might get on a plane after that.”
Options open up for Savvy pick
Connections will weigh up a shot at the $1 million Inglis Sprint (1200m) or the group 1 Surround Stakes (1400m) on February 28 with Savvy Hallie after she turned the tables on $1.50 favourite Apocalyptic in the Light Fingers Stakes (1200m).
Nash Rawiller took the Brad Widdup-trained filly ($3.70) to the front and rated her perfectly to hold off Flight Stakes winner Apocalyptic by three-quarters of a length. It was a second group 2 victory for Savvy Hallie, which won the Silver Shadow on heavy going before finishing third to Apocalyptic in the Furious.
Widdup said Savvy Hallie would probably stay in three-year-old fillies grade and next go to the $750,000 Surround Stakes at Randwick.
“She relaxes and she’s got a good brain, so I can’t see why not,” Widdup said.
Part-owner Ben Vassallo, who bought the Hellbent filly for $320,000, said the Inglis Sprint at Flemington on the same day could be another option.
“She’s a very promising filly that just needed an ounce of luck today,” Vassallo said.
“Last prep when we went against the favourite, we probably just dictated to the inside run and hit the front a little too early, and gave it a chance to get over the top of us.
“When Nash came out and thought he’d be one out, one back, I knew he’d be front. The second she jumps, she gives you a totally different dimension.
“There’s the possibility of the Inglis Sprint, just see how she comes through the run and what suits best, but Brad is adamant she is going to get further than 1400, possibly even a mile. He’s nommed her for a Doncaster.”
Waller’s special boy ready to go
Caulfield Guineas winner Autumn Boy warmed up on Saturday with an exhibition gallop for his return in next week’s Hobartville Stakes (1400m), where he could be joined by stablemate Wodeton.
James McDonald took the Chris Waller-trained star for a 1000m hit-out between races at Randwick on Saturday and they clocked 1.08:25, and 38.82 seconds for the last 600m.
Waller said Autumn Boy would resume in the Hobartville, then go to the Randwick Guineas before potentially taking open company in the George Ryder Stakes.
“Very happy,” Waller said.
“Beautiful horse, lovely animal. Very relaxed in his pre-parade. Relaxed going around. Beautiful action and quickened up nicely.”
Waller said Wodeton, which finished three lengths off winner Tempted in the Eskimo Prince (1200m) first-up, could also run in the Hobartville. He said Canonbury Stakes quinella Hidrix and Confederation will run in the Silver Slipper, while Lazzura and maybe Pinito will contest the Millie Fox Stakes.
Ciaron’s Star shines to join Slipper team
Ciaron’s Star has the name to lead trainer Ciaron Maher’s Golden Slipper team, but the stable says there are no standouts among their contenders.
The I Am Invincible-Bonny O’Reilly filly, a $650,000 Inglis Easter yearling sale buy, put herself in the Slipper frame with a three-quarter length win in the Pierro Plate (1100m) at Randwick on Saturday.
It came after a third on debut at the track and took her prizemoney to $119,000. She joined stablemates Unit Five and Tornado Valley, the Magic Millions Classic quinella, and Spicy Miss at $26 (TAB) for the March 21 Slipper.
Maher assistant trainer Johann Gerard-Dubord the mature and straightforward Ciaron’s Star would likely race next in the Sweet Embrace or Reisling Stakes.
“We’ve got a very good group of two-year-olds,” he said.
“I wouldn’t say there are any standouts. Obviously, there are the two Magic Millions boys, there’s Spicy Miss and we’ve got a couple more coming up the next couple of weeks.”
Most Viewed in Sport
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: www.smh.com.au
