Jockey Kerrin McEvoy excited by Autumn Glow opportunity in Group 3 Up And Coming Stakes

Kerrin McEvoy won last week’s Winx Stakes on one of Australia’s best horses, now he will partner one of Sydney’s most exciting fillies.

Autumn Glow can continue her winning run in Saturday’s Up And Coming Stakes on Saturday. Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images

Boom filly Autumn Glow has gun jockey Kerrin McEvoy in pole position to continue his excellent start to the spring in Saturday’s Group 3 $250,000 Up And Coming Stakes (1300m) at Rosehill Gardens.

McEvoy won last week’s Group 1 Winx Stakes on superstar import Via Sistina and has been locked in to partner trainer Chris Waller’s most exciting filly as she has her first crack in stakes company this weekend.

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Autumn Glow set tongues wagging with a terrific 2½-length debut win over 1300m at Rosehill Gardens on August 17 with Tyler Schiller aboard.

Schiller is booked to ride Godolphin’s Snack Bar in the Up And Coming Stakes, paving the way for McEvoy to take over in her second-up assignment.

"An auspicious debut!"

The Autumn Sun filly 'Autumn Glow' is destined for big things this Spring! 👀@cwallerracing@[e-mail]/wadfsLeRyx

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) August 17, 2024

“It was a stylish win and there was a fair bit written about her,” McEvoy said.

“She meets a better field on Saturday but you’d like to think she is up to running in good races this spring and Saturday might be a nice progression into those.

“She has got a lightweight (53kg) on her back there on Saturday and hopefully she can go there and take another step in a forward direction.”

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Autumn Glow is a firm $1.95 favourite with the bookies to remain unbeaten on home turf.

She will make up a two-pronged Waller attack in the Up And Coming Stakes with lightly-raced filly Aeliana ($23) also in the race with Dylan Gibbons booked to ride.

A final field of 10 runners was revealed for the three-year-old event, including last start winners Wanaruah ($8), Enriched ($15) and Axius ($5).

Waller is set to hold all the aces in the feature events with brilliant Rosebud winner Gatsby’s ($2) favoured to continue his winning start to the spring in the Group 3 San Domenico Stakes (1100m).

Gatsby's dominated in The Rosebud last month. Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images

The leading trainer has elected to wait until another day with smart stablemate Switzerland with Gatsby’s set to take on a small field of seven rivals in the second this week’s features.

Among his rivals is the boom colt Storm Boy.

The favourite for last year’s Golden Slipper will make his highly-anticipated return with Adam Hyeronimus aboard and is a $2.40 second elect.

McEvoy will partner the Ciaron Maher-trained Odinson ($34) in his first run since a ninth in Group 3 company in March.

“I haven’t ridden him but he has had one trial back and ran well in a couple of Nursery races last prep so he could be a horse to keep an eye on as well,” McEvoy said.

“The stable have aimed him at some nice races previously so he must be a nice horse.”

Originally published as Jockey Kerrin McEvoy excited by Autumn Glow opportunity in Group 3 Up And Coming Stakes