Superstar colt The Autumn Sun glows red hot in Caulfield Guineas rout for trainer Chris Waller
THE Autumn Sun has confirmed his standing as Australia’s best three-year-old after a stunning Caulfield Guineas display, with an excited Chris Waller convinced his colt can take on and beat the world.
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AN excited Chris Waller is convinced his breathtaking colt The Autumn Sun can do something Winx never got the chance to do — take on and beat the world — after demolishing the field to win the $2 million Caulfield Guineas.
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But the prospect of Australia’s two most exciting horses butting heads in this year’s Cox Plate appears remote, with the master trainer doubtful his colt is seasoned enough to tackle his superstar stablemate.
“We didn’t get the chance (to take on the world) with Winx; we left it too late,” Waller said after The Autumn Sun backed up his Golden Rose win with a four-and-a-half length procession in the Guineas.
“I doubt we will miss out with this bloke.”
Nineteen years to the weekend since his sire Redoute’s Choice outslugged Testa Rossa in the same race, The Autumn Sun overcome a difficult and wide run in transit to provide star hoop James McDonald with his first Group 1 success in two years.
The relief was palpable for McDonald, who feared momentarily he had botched it, but was left almost speechless with the horse’s stunning performance.
“The world is his oyster, not many of them can do that,” McDonald said.
Starting a $1.75 favourite, The Autumn Sun was three wide for almost the entire trip after jumping “too well”, according to McDonald, but he stormed clear to win from $101 outsider Vassilator, with the filly Oohood ($9.50) finishing third.
Waller will meet with the colt’s owners early in the week to determine what comes next, and while The Autumn Sun firmed from $26 to $13 with the TAB for the Cox Plate, that would seem to be an unlikely option.
“I know everyone is dying to hear ‘Will he run in the Cox Plate?’ But ultimately it will be up to the owners,” Waller said.
“If he is going to be a world champion, he would have to beat Winx. If he is going to be a world champion in two weeks, he will be in six months’ time.
“(Winx) hasn’t got the ‘world’s best crown’ for nothing. She gets around Moonee Valley better than any horse. I am not afraid to run my horses against her and I wouldn’t be in the Cox Plate, but I am doing the right thing by the horse.”
When McDonald was asked after the race if The Autumn Sun should take on Winx, he said: “No, I wouldn’t, she’s too good.”
But he quickly added: “He is going to scary in the autumn.”
The colt, owned by Hermitage Thoroughbreds in conjunction with Arrowfield Stud, who bought a half share in the horse during the week, is destined for a long and successful career at stud, like his stallion.
But Waller said racing fans won’t be losing him to the breeding barns anytime soon, outlining some ambitious future plans.
“He is a very good horse, I don’t think he has matured yet,” Waller said. “He is so relaxed. That’s what I want to see him like when he retires, and he will have a few more Group 1 wins next to his name.”
“He has got a long future, he won’t be getting rushed off to stud.”
Yesterday marked a significant day in McDonald’s riding career.
His 31st Group 1 was his first since riding Hartnell to win the 2016 Turnbull Stakes, having spent 18 months on the sidelines after being suspended for placing a $1000 bet on his mount Astern in a race in Sydney in late 2015.
Fittingly, McDonald reunited with the ever-green Hartnell on Saturday to finish third in the Toorak Handicap.
“It took a good one to get me home,” McDonald said of The Autumn Sun, before finishing his day with a second winner, with the highly impressive Yucatan in the Herbert Power Stakes.
“The reason why he is so good is that he can absorb the pressure because he relaxes. He just laps it up.
“It didn’t all go to plan. I wanted to be wide but with cover, but he jumped too well. He was first out (of the barriers) and he has never done that in his life.”
“I am taking credit for that, it ended up pear-shaped, I am lucky enough I am on a superstar and he got the job done.”
BIG GUNS STILL IN CUP MIX DESPITE SUSPENSIONS
By Michael Manley and Russell Gould
CRAIG Williams is free to ride Caulfield Cup second favourite Kings Will Dream next Saturday after having a suspension for careless riding deferred until after the meeting.
Similarly James McDonald will also be free to ride in the Caulfield Cup as his 11-meeting suspension for careless riding on Meryl in the third race will begin next Saturday at midnight.
McDonald is still weighing up his Caulfield Cup options.
Ben Allen was also suspended for eight meetings for his ride on Night’s Watch in the Caulfield Stakes and he has also deferred his suspension until after the Caulfield Cup where he will ride King’s Will Dream.
Stewards suspended a total of six jockeys for careless riding with Jamie Mott and James Doyle also suspended for 10 meetings and Jordan Childs for seven meetings.
That trio have also deferred their suspnsions until midnight next Saturday.
Williams will miss the Friday night’s Manikato Stakes meeting at The Valley, but be back for Cox Plate day after a late decision to change his plea.
Williams was caught up in an incident in the opening race on Caulfield Guineas Day when he shifted in about 250m from home on Champagne Boom, which went on to win the race.
He initially pleaded not guilty to the charge and tried to argue against stewards contention he tried to take a run that wasn’t there.
Williams push inside unsettled Jordan Childs mount Biscara, which then moved in to Jamie Mott on Mockery.
Childs was also charged, but when he received only a seven meeting suspension after pleading guilty, Williams opted for the same deal, and left Caulfield happy, having ridden three winners for the day.
SUNDAY FIX
IN A NUTSHELL
VETERAN Caulfield trainer Colin Little backed his judgment and was rewarded with a second placing in the Caulfield Guineas with Vassilator finishing second at $101.
“We targeted this race so it was a good result. His run the other day took a bit of the wind out of our sails when he put his head up in the air,” Little said.
Little said he made a few gear changes to Vassilator and told his jockey Beau Mertens to give him plenty of galloping room.
“He beat the rest. It was a great effort,” Little said.
“I’ll go home and think about his next start. He’ll get more ground. He’s in the Derby but I might try and give him a 2000m run and then put him out for the autumn and Sydney as he likes wet tracks.”
CHAMPAGNE PLEASE
CHAMPAGNE Boom made it three wins in a row for Lindsay Park in the Debutant Stakes when she followed in the footsteps of Qalifa and Wait For No One.
Ben Hayes said winning the opening race was seen as a relief to get on the scoreboard so early in the carnival.
Ben Hayes said Champagne Boom would likely head to the Group 3 Ottawa Stakes at Flemington on Melbourne Cup day.
“She was slowly away, Craig (Williams) did the right thing and rode her quietly from the barrier and she came through the field really well,” Hayes said.
For good measure Lindsay Park also trained the quinella with Biscara running second.
CONNECTIONS BREATHE EASIER
ROSEMONT Stud proprietor Anthony Mithen took special satisfaction with the easy win of the Darren Weir-trained Iconoclasm in the Weekend Hussler Stakes.
After his previous run five weeks ago Iconoclasm had surgery to repair an entrapped epiglottis which usually leads to a horse being spelled.
Mithen said Iconoclasm was operated on by Mornington vet Ben Mason who employed a different procedure for this throat surgery.
“He’d done it before successfully for us with another horse and I said to Weiry keep him in work. He told me he’s flying which surprised him,” Mithen said.
Mithen said Weir had been so impressed with Iconoclasm’s recovery that he’s arranged to send another horse for the procedure.
Mithen said Iconoclasm would now contest the Group 1 Kennedy Mile (1600m) at Flemington on November 3.
Iconoclasm is by Mithen’s stallion Toorak Toff, who has been relocated from his stud to Tasmania.
DID YOU SEE/HEAR
BIG day in Sydney for two Victorian stables. Apprentice Jack Martin achieved the biggest success of his career when he scored on the Peter Gelagotis-trained Moss ‘N’ Dale in the Group 3 $500,000 Craven Plate.
In the following race the Ciaron Maher/David Eustace team were to the fore with Big Blue, who had won his two previous starts over the hurdles in Victoria, led throughout to win the $500,000 St Leger Stakes. That’s the third successive Saturday from their small stables there.
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