Autumn Glow is positioned at Winx-like odds to claim victory in the $1 million 7 Stakes at Randwick. While her connections are confident she will justify her short quote, they are also cautious about the potential challenges presented by a small field.
Chris Waller has opted to scratch stablemates Lindermann and Lady Shenandoah, preferring to race them in Group 1 assignments in Melbourne, which leaves Autumn Glow with just four rivals. Each of these competitors has a proven record at the highest level of racing.
Waller’s assistant trainer, Charlie Duckworth, admitted that the reduced field size for the 7 Stakes (1600m) is not necessarily a positive. “It’s probably worse. It’s obviously going to make it more tactical,” Duckworth stated.
He further explained, “If she runs the same figures then she should win, but if she gets cluttered up… you see more hard luck stories in a small field than you do in a field of sixteen. We’ve just got to weigh up exactly how she gets ridden. She is very adaptable. You can ride her from anywhere. You can take luck out of the equation and going forward is obviously an option, and then you make your own luck.”
When asked if connections would consider leading on Autumn Glow, Duckworth confirmed that all options would be on the table. “I don’t think so at all. She has gone forward in the past and been happy enough to cruise up close to the speed,” he remarked.
The legendary mare Winx started at odds-on in 31 of her 43 career starts, with her shortest quote being $1.05 when she won the 2019 George Ryder Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill.
Autumn Glow has started at short odds in 10 of her 13 starts and is expected to go to post at her most favourable price yet this Saturday.
The next horse in the betting is Gringotts at $9, with Autumn Glow’s stablemate, Aeliana, listed at $15. Aeliana will take her place in the field after being withdrawn from the Underwood Stakes (1800m) in Melbourne.
Aeliana’s first-up run was disappointing, as she finished without beating a rival home in the Winx Stakes (1400m). However, with a less frenetic pace anticipated at Randwick, the stable is anticipating a much-improved showing.
Duckworth also noted that Aeliana still needed to fully develop her winter coat, and Sydney’s comparatively milder climate played a role in her remaining closer to home for another start. “Chris is just conscious of Aeliana. She takes forever to lose that winter coat and while there’s a bit more warmth up here, we’ll keep her up here for another couple of weeks before ultimately heading down for a Cox Plate,” Duckworth explained.
Saturday will mark only the fourth running of the 7 Stakes (1600m), with Kerry Parker’s Think It Over winning the inaugural event in 2023 and Waller’s Fangirl having won the past two editions.
Racegoers keen to get involved can check out the available betting sites for the upcoming feature race.