News

Autumn Glow flexes her muscle in G1 Winx Stakes victory

22nd Aug 2026

It was billed as the first ‘clash of the titans’ and it didn’t disappoint, with champion mare Autumn Glow proving too strong over her star rival Sheza Alibi in today’s G1 Winx Stakes at Randwick.

The two Golden Girls of Australian racing – both Inglis graduates – provided a memorable maiden clash, running the quinella in what was the first G1 of the season.

For the victor Autumn Glow (The Autumn Sun), it was a 12^th career win at start No.13 and her fourth at G1 level, taking her career prizemoney to almost $9.7m.

The Chris Waller-trained Autumn Glow races in the famed Arrowfield Stud colours – Arrowfield teamed up with Hermitage Thoroughbreds to purchase the mare for $1.8m at the Easter Yearling Sale, where she was offered by Silverdale Farm.

Bred by Newhaven Park, Autumn Glow is one of 124 individual Inglis graduates to have won a G1 since 2018.

Waller was confident of a big showing by Autumn Glow (pictured) today but conceded post-race the mare had significant improvement to come.

“She wasn’t screwed down today,’’ Waller said.

“We know how good she is, nothing has changed, we just needed her to come back and be herself.

“We were confident from what we’d seen at home that she was back to where she needs to be but the big question was how much had Sheza Alibi improved, that was the unknown but it was a great a clash. It’s a pretty awesome time.

“It was great that Peter Moody and the owners brought their mare up to Sydney, it was just the first round of competition of these headlines horses clashing…we’ve come out of round one pretty well but I’m sure there’ll be a round two and round three. Peter might make it the best of five!’’

Winning co-owner John Messara added: “[Autumm Glow] was strong, very strong. It was a big unknown today because she hadn’t met a lot of these horses before so we didn’t really know what we were in for. I respect the Victorian filly (Sheza Alibi) and I respect Peter Moody as a trainer, he’s no mug and if he’s coming down, he gives himself a chance.

“Her time (1:21.03) was enormous, it was a proper test and she came through with flying colours.

“It’s a great thrill, it’s beautiful. She’s a great mare with a great trainer and a great jockey, I mean what else can you ask for?’’

Autumm Glow’s connections will meet in the next week to determine what race she contests next.

Earlier on the Randwick program, progressive mare Prima Bella (Per Incanto) scored a valuable first black type victory when winning the G3 Toy Show Quality.

The lightly raced 6YO mare, who races in the famous Mystery Downs colours of Francis and Christine Cook, was having just her 15^th career start and today’s win was her eighth overall.

Trainer Matt Smith paid $320,000 for the Little Avondale Trust-bred Prima Bella at the Classic Yearling Sale, where she was offered by Sledmere Stud.

“When she ran so well last start we thought it was worth having a crack at black type but if you’d said to me a few weeks ago that she’d be beating the likes of Apocalyptic and Savvy Hallie in a Group race, I’d have laughed at you,’’ a delighted Smith said.

“She put her hand up today and said ‘here I am’ and what a good girl she is, she was really strong late and showed a lot of ticker.’’

In Melbourne today Cavalry Girl’s winning streak continued at Sandown when she again proved victorious in the G3 Carlyon Stakes.

The Tom Dabernig-trained Cavalry Girl (Bivouac) is one of the most in-form sprinters in Australia at present – she has raced six times this preparation for four wins and two second placings, including three consecutive victories, two of which have been at Stakes level.

Joe O’Neill of Prime Thoroughbreds purchased Cavalry Girl – bred by Patrick Hodgens and Rob Piper - for $110,000 at the Classic Yearling Sale, where she was offered by Vinery Stud.

She has now won seven of her 17 starts for $520,000 in prizemoney and is set to target the G1 Moir Stakes at Sandown in a fortnight.

In Adelaide today the 4YO Bootlegger (Too Darn Hot) led in an Inglis graduates quinella in the Listed Leon Macdonald Stakes, defeating Air Assault.

Bred by Vintage Bloodstock, the Dan Clarken and Oopy MacGillivray-trained Bootlegger is a graduate of the Premier Yearling Sale, where he was offered by Twin Hills Stud.

He is now a dual Stakes winner.

And in New Zealand, Alabama Lass (Alabama Express) led in an Inglis graduates quinella when defeating Media World in the G2 Foxbridge Plate at Te Rapa.

Alabama Lass has proven to be an exquisite purchase for her trainers Ken and Bev Kelso – she has now won seven of her 14 starts, including five black type races, and earned almost $1.1m in the process.

The Kelsos teamed up with Dean Hawthorne to buy Alabama Lass for $120,000 at the Premier Yearling Sale, where she was offered by Shadow Hill Thoroughbreds.

She is bred by Rifa Mustang.