Autumn Glow, a mare with little left to prove on the racetrack, is set for a new challenge on the final day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival, encountering an unfamiliar racing direction.
Across her impressive 15-start career, trainer Chris Waller’s prominent mare has consistently raced in a clockwise direction, often described as ‘the Sydney way’.
However, she is slated to compete in the Group 1 Champions Mile (1600m) at Flemington, where she will race against ‘the Melbourne way’ for the first time, marking her debut outside of Sydney.
“It is her first time in Victoria but she has done a lot of work left-handed in Sydney,” Waller explained.
“She had a gallop at Flemington on Tuesday morning with James McDonald aboard and he said she got on the right legs at the right time and felt great.
“She pulled up very clean in her wind and with this the final run in her prep I hope she runs well.”
With plans for a 2027 Royal Ascot campaign now shelved, the focus is entirely on her domestic racing future. Waller, known for his meticulous planning, acknowledges that this introduction to a new racing style for Autumn Glow remains a key point of interest.
“You never really know until under race pressure,” Waller stated.
“But she is such a professional and everything she does seems to be professional. If she was a person, she takes everything very seriously.
“When game day is on, she is in the zone. Even in her trackwork. She’s quite remarkable.”
The layout of Flemington is expected to be advantageous for the mare, offering similarities to her usual racing environment at Randwick.
“I think it is very forgiving, Flemington,” Waller added.
“It is a natural place for horses to race. They get on the left leg on the bend and they change to the right leg in the straight.
“It is a very natural way and Sydney horses tend to adjust well to Flemington better than any other track.”
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