Unbeaten filly Autumn Glow to trial on Monday ahead of potential Surround Stakes tilt

Trainer Chris Waller will decide after Monday’s barrier trials if Autumn Glow will line up in Saturday’s Group 1 Surround Stakes at Royal Randwick.

Autumn Glow will trial on Monday morning. Picture: Jeremy Ng-Getty Images

Boom filly Autumn Glow faces a Monday morning litmus test to take her place alongside star stablemate Lady Shenandoah in Saturday’s Group 1 $750,000 Surround Stakes (1400m) at Royal Randwick.

Trainer Chris Waller is plotting a heavy-handed assault of the three-year-old fillies major and is hopeful unbeaten talent Autumn Glow can take her place in the feature field.

Autumn Glow, a brilliant winner of her three starts during the spring, hasn’t raced since her Group 2 Tea Rose Stakes victory in September after requiring surgery to remove a bone chip from her knee.

She will have her second trial this preparation over 1050m on Monday at Royal Randwick with Zac Lloyd aboard.

“If she trials exceptionally well and pulls up without blowing I would be keen to run her,” Waller said.

“I don’t have a Plan B. It is all about the Surround Stakes.

“If she is 100 per cent she will run but if she is not ready to run in the Surround Stakes and beat Lady Shenandoah then we probably won’t run her.

“She is a very good horse, doing everything right but she only had her first trial about 9-10 days ago.”

READ: At The Track: Lloyd suspended on career best day at Rosehill

The @godolphin comeback kid Golden Mile, who has returned from stud as a gelding, outpoints Pulchritudinous and New Energy in a 900m trial at Warwick Farm on Tuesday. Behind them were names like Autumn Glow, Encap and Scarlet Oak. @tabcomaupic.twitter.com/jD7ttfDNxj

— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) February 10, 2025

Waller will make a final call on which filly champion jockey James McDonald rides after Autumn Glow’s trial however Lloyd will be unavailable on Saturday after picking up a careless riding suspension on Saturday.

Lloyd rode Lady Shenandoah to victory in her terrific Group 1 Flight Stakes victory last spring and was aboard the emerging star in her commanding first-up triumph in the Group 2 Light Fingers Stakes earlier this month.

Lady Shenandoah is a clear $1.70 favourite to win the Surround Stakes from Autumn Glow ($6).

“Lady Shenandoah has filled out and strengthened up since spring,’’ Waller said.

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One for the ladies! Lady Shenandoah absolutely smashes them in the G2 TAB Light Fingers Stakes and wins with her ears pricked!@ZacLloydx | @cwallerracing | @aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/tfZu9PgjlC

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) February 15, 2025

Waller’s Surround Stakes hand will also include the likes of Lazzura ($26), Declichy Boulevard ($15), Amelita ($26) and Movin Out ($26).

Movin Out, raced by Yulong, is a new addition to Waller’s yard after starting her career in New Zealand and finishing third in last year’s Group 1 NZ 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton.

Waller is preparing for a similar strong hand in the Group 1 Verry Elleegant Stakes (1600m) with star mares Via Sistina and Fangirl joined by Lindermann and Land Legend.

Classy mare Atishu will also be nominated but is likely to go to the following Saturday’s Group 1 All-Star Mile in Melbourne.

Via Sistina is a $2.50 favourite to turn the tables on Apollo Stakes winning stable Fangirl ($4) in the weight-for-age feature.

Originally published as Unbeaten filly Autumn Glow to trial on Monday ahead of potential Surround Stakes tilt