Usually measured with his praise, top jockey Kerrin McEvoy ventured a bold call after guiding the unbeaten mare to her first elite success in the Epsom Handicap at Randwick, labelling Autumn Glow a potential champion.
Autumn Glow ($1.75 fav) had plenty against her—an awkward gate, 54-1/2kg and a first crack at 1600 metres—but she handled each test superbly to score by 1-1/4 lengths over Fully Lit ($31). Adding to the merit of the win, she shed a shoe mid-race, which may explain a brief flat spot turning in.
“She pulled a shoe so I don’t know if that is part of the reason,” McEvoy said.
“For one hundred metres or so I was a bit worried but then she was good. She changed on to her ‘fresh’ leg on straightening and away she went.
“She is a champion in the making, I think.
“I don’t like calling them champions too early but she has gone to a new level today.”
Seven from seven now, Autumn Glow’s trainer Chris Waller says the focus isn’t on preserving a perfect record but on stacking up major races, and he noted the occasion stirred memories of a certain mare a decade ago.
“Yes it has. But there’s a long way to go,” Waller said.
“We will just place her right and probably one more run is enough for this prep. It’s all about Group Ones for me.
“I would say it’s the Golden Eagle but if it’s not the Golden Eagle it will be the Empire Rose Stakes. They’re both great races and they mean a lot to me.”
Fully Lit controlled the tempo as the Epsom leader and fought on bravely for second, with the ever-honest Pericles a further half-head away in third.
“He just stumbled as the gate opened. Just tried to anticipate the start too much,” Parr said.
“It allowed Autumn Glow and Pier to have the wood on us early. A very good effort.”
Last year’s winner Ceolwulf beat a few home in sixth, with jockey Chad Schofield sensing the firm ground wasn’t ideal.
“The pace did come out of the race mid-race,” Schofield said.
“We got into the clear very nicely. I felt like he just wants a bit of give in the track. He was good though. He was genuine.”
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