Jockey Reece Jones produces a perfect frontrunning ride to deliver Autumnmation to victory at Randwick

Trainer Chris Waller thought Reece Jones was going too slow in front on Autumnmation but the young jockey had something left in the locker when it counted.

Reece Jones controlled the race in front on Autumnmation (left) at Randwick. Picture: Getty Images

Hall of Fame trainer Chris Waller had an interesting take on Reece Jones’s winning ride on Autumnmation at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

“I thought you were going too slow,” Waller said when congratulating Jones after leading most of the way in the TAB Handicap (1600m).

Jones, who rode his first Group 1 winner on the Waller-trained Land Legend in The Metropolitan last spring, had a simple explanation for his tactics.

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“She was just so relaxed out in front,” Jones said.

“She kept rolling along at a nice, even rhythm but when I asked her, she quickened really well.”

Autumnmation ($6) held off the fast-finishing Dances With Hooves ($31) to score by a half-length with Sly Boots ($3.70 favourite) a close third.

A well-bred daughter of Arrowfield Stud’s boom sire The Autumn Sun, Autumnmation scored her third win from 17 starts and took her career earnings to nearly $250,000.

“I would like to have a few more of them,” Waller said of The Autumn Sun’s progeny. “There will be a few at the (Magic Millions) Sale next week that we could look at.”

Waller trained The Autumn Sun to win five Group 1 races and now the horse is making a name for himself at stud.

The Autumn Sun has sired three Group 1 winners from his firs crop, Autumn Angel, Coco Sun and Vibrant Sun.

But Waller might be training the best of The Autumn Sun’s so far – unbeaten three-year-old filly Autumn Glow.

All the way for AUTUMNMATION who gets her third win on the board under Reece Jones 🔥@cwallerracing | @aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/Lc7la9EpFw

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) January 4, 2025

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The exciting Autumn Glow won her three starts in an outstanding debut preparation last spring, including the Group 2 Tea Rose Stakes, but was a race-eve scratching from the Group 1 Flight Stakes when she was a red-hot favourite.

Autumn Glow was found to have a minor bone chip in a knee on her right front leg which required surgery.

“She is back in work and will be right for the autumn carnival,” Waller revealed.

“I know she has a bit of catching up to do but she looks fantastic and should be right for the Surround Stakes (Group 1, Randwick, March 1).”

Waller will have a strong hand in the Surround Stakes with Lady Shenandoah, who won the Flight Stakes so well in The Autumn Sun’s absence, and emerging Aeliana, winner of the Carbine Club Stakes and an unlucky second in the Thousand Guineas.

“We will have Lady Shenandoah, Aeliana and maybe a couple of others for the Surround,” Waller said.

“I think Lady Shenandoah is more a sprinter-miler while Aeliana might be a Vinery (Stud Stakes) type of filly.”

Autumn Glow keeps raising the bar! 🍁

She takes out the Group 2 Tea Rose Stakes at start three!@[e-mail]/Rc9Er3uK31

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) September 21, 2024

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Waller had another outstanding spring carnival, preparing 10 Group 1 winners which is the most at that point of a racing season.

The Hall of Fame trainer’s 10 major winners including four at the elite level with super mare Via Sistina – Winx Stakes, Turnbull Stakes, Cox Plate and Champion Stakes.

Waller also won Group 1 races with Lady Shenandoah (Flight Stakes), Land Legend (The Metropolitan), Buckaroo (Underwood Stakes), Private Life (Caulfield Guineas), Atishu (Empire Rose Stakes) and Switzerland (Coolmore Stud Stakes).

No trainer has ever managed to prepare 10 Group 1 winners by the end of Melbourne Cup Week.

The previous best was also achieved by Waller in 2015/16 when he had nine major race winners by the same stage of the season.

Waller also prepared eight Group 1 winners by the end of the Flemington spring carnival in 2018/19 and then finished that season with an all-time record of 18 major race winners, eclipsing the best results achieved by legendary trainers Tommy Smith (17 Group wins set in 1979/80) and Bart Cummings (16 wins in 1974/75).

PATIENT PARR”S PEALER BRINGS UP A TREBLE

Josh Parr saved the best for last to complete a winning treble with a textbook ride on Unlimited at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

Unlimited, trained by Chris Waller, seemed to be in an awkward position in the middle of the pack half-way down the straight but Parr persevered and found the gap to run down Soul Choice near the line in the Asahi Super Dry Handicap (2000m).

“I had to ride him to relax and then wait for the gaps,” Parr said.

“Fortunately for me, I had a horse that was brave enough and with the turn of foot to go through there and win.”

Unlimited bursts home late to win Race 8 at Randwick for @cwallerracing! 🔥

A third win for @JoshuaParr8 who is having a day out! 👏 pic.twitter.com/vGBv09D1Ik

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) January 4, 2025

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Unlimited ($8) finished powerfully to overhaul Soul Choice ($14) to win narrowly with Akkadian Emperor ($2.80 favourite) a length away third.

Parr completed a Sydney Saturday treble all for different trainers after scoring earlier in the Bjorn Baker-trained Disneck and for Joe Pride on Accredited.

Waller, who prepared a double after Autumnation won earlier, has 69 wins so far this season and is well on his way to securing a 15th consecutive Sydney trainers premiership.

But the champion trainer preferred to deflect attention to Parr’s “nice, patient ride” before paying tribute to the late Terry Snow, a former part-owner of Unlimited.

“Terry passed away about four months ago – he was a lovely guy,” Waller said.

Unlimited might not be the best horse in Waller’s stable but he is improving with racing and now has four wins (and three minor placings) from his 14 starts, taking his career earnings to more than $160,000.

Originally published as Jockey Reece Jones produces a perfect frontrunning ride to deliver Autumnmation to victory at Randwick