Autumn Glow continues to enhance her reputation as Australia’s best galloper yet to claim a Group 1 title, and on current form, that accolade looks certain to come sooner rather than later. The Chris Waller-trained mare was dazzling once again at Rosehill, extending her unbeaten streak to six with a commanding victory in the Group 2 Theo Marks Stakes (1300m).
Her performance evoked memories of champion mare Winx, who won the same race in 2015 before capturing the Epsom Handicap (1600m). Waller’s assistant Charlie Duckworth suggested that the handicapper’s ruling would dictate whether Autumn Glow presses on to the Randwick mile. “She’s got to be the best horse in training who is yet to win a Group One, which is the one thing that’s missing off her resume, but I’m sure that will come,” he said. “The target was the Epsom so it will be interesting to see what weight she gets in that. She is still very lightly raced and continuing to improve. What her optimum distance is is still yet to be seen. She has got endless gears.”
Given a perfect steer by Kerrin McEvoy, Autumn Glow ($1.30 fav) cruised in behind the speed before sprinting clear, leaving General Salute ($8) two and a quarter lengths away in second and New Zealand galloper Pier ($6.50) another length and three-quarters back in third.
Duckworth was struck by the ease of her acceleration. “She must have almost given Kerrin a fright how quickly she quickened up around the home turn. She is just electric. I don’t think he even asked her, I think he might have just been thinking about asking her and then she took off.”
McEvoy believes she has the versatility to stretch to a mile in the Epsom or drop back in distance for a crack at The Everest (1200m). “I think she’ll stay further but she’s got a motor as well. I’m sure Chris and the team will make the right call. Probably a mile because then I might be a chance to ride her.”