News

Autumn Glow makes it nine from nine with breathtaking return

14th Feb 2026

Wonder mare Autumn Glow (The Autumn Sun) looks to have autumn carnival riches at her mercy following a breathtaking first-up victory in today's G2 Apollo Stakes at Randwick.

Now undefeated after nine career starts, the Chris Waller-trained Autumn Glow looked as if she was in another league against a top-class field of rivals, which had won a staggering $33m in prizemoney between them.

But it appears nothing can stand between Autumn Glow and victory, with bookmakers rapidly bringing her into long odds-on quotes for all races she is mooted to contest this preparation.

Her most likely campaign is second-up into the G1 Verry Elleegant Stakes at Randwick in a fortnight, then the G1 George Ryder Stakes at Rosehill on Golden Slipper Day and possibly the G1 Queen of the Turf Stakes back at Randwick on Day 2 of The Championships.

Arrowfield Stud and Hermitage Thoroughbreds teamed up to buy the Newhaven Park Stud-bred Autumn Glow (pictured) for a sale-topping $1.8m at the Easter Yearling Sale, where she was offered by Silverdale Farm.

Arrowfield’s John Messara was trackside at Randwick today to witness what could only be described as a spectacular return by the horse that has become the apple of his eye.

“She makes it look easy. It’s not that easy but she makes it look easy,’’ Messara said post-race.

“She’s very special. Two and three-quarter lengths, at Weight For Age, she’s just so good.

“It’s been a tough week for the farm and the family, losing Miss Finland yesterday and while this is no compensation for losing the other mare, we’re very pleased all the same that she was able to do it and win the way she did.’’

Winning trainer Waller added: “The first run of the prep is the most important, it tells you where they are and I now know where she is.

“You can have as many track gallops, trials and exhibition gallops as you like but until they’re under race pressure you never really know but that today tells me she’s in a pretty good position.

“She’s very good, she’s very special, we’re very lucky.’’

Today’s victory took Autumn Glow’s prizemoney tally to $6,995,000.

Autumn Glow was one of six Stakes-winning Inglis graduates today.

A race prior at Randwick it was again the Waller stable taking the honours when magnificent mare Joliestar (Zoustar) led in an Inglis graduates trifecta with a brilliant victory in the G2 Expressway Stakes.

The 5YO is a first-up wonder, with today’s win her 5th from seven first-up attempts and eighth overall victory from just 19 starts.

Now an earner of $6,750,000 in prizemoney, Joliestar defeated stablemate Lady Shenandoah today and the Bjorn Baker-trained Caballus.

Cambridge Stud’s Sir Brendan and Lady Jo Lindsay purchased the Chris and Jane Barham-bred Joliestar for $950,000 at the Easter Yearling Sale, where she was offered by Segenhoe Stud.

She will likely next contest the G1 Canterbury Stakes at Randwick in three weeks.

“Last year we were saying she needed to settle and needed to relax and do the little things right and she does that now,’’ Waller said.

“She really had to dig deep today, she had a test and she passed the test.’’

Earlier on the Randwick program talented filly Savvy Hallie (Hellbent) proved too strong for $1.50 favourite Apocalyptic in the G2 Light Fingers Stakes, confirming her standing as one of the leading 3YO fillies in the country.

The $1m Inglis Sprint at Flemington on February 28 is now firmly on the radar for Savvy Hallie (Hellbent), according to her managing owner Benny Vassallo, as is possibly the G1 Surround Stakes on the same day in Sydney.

“The Surround Stakes is the Group 1 but the Inglis Sprint at Flemington, that’s worth $1m and that’s prizemoney that’s hard to turn your nose up at for a race like that,’’ Vassallo, who bought Savvy Hallie at the Classic Yearling Sale for $320,000 from the Riverstone Lodge draft, said.

“We’ll make the decision in the next couple of days whether we go up in trip to the Surround or stay at the 1200m and go for the big Inglis prizemoney. It’s pretty hard to knock back that money.’’

At Flemington today exciting filly Sass Appeal (So You Think) made it three wins from four starts with an effortless front-running victory in the Listed Desirable Stakes.

It was a valuable first black type success for the 3YO, who trainer Danny O’Brien purchased for $120,000 at the Premier Yearling Sale from the Vinery Stud draft.

Bred by Echo Beach Bloodstock and Brian Singer, Sass Appeal will likely contest the G2 Kewney Stakes at Flemington in three weeks, rather than the G1 Australian Guineas in a fortnight.

“It's a big step, to take on those horses that are seasoned (in the G1 Australian Guineas) up over the spring and the colts are a decent division with Observer looking top class,’’ O’Brien said.

“Unless something happened, I think the more sensible thing is to wait three weeks and stay in fillies grade and run here in the Kewney Stakes.

"We've got a lot of hope that she can go to a very high level in the spring…hopefully we can get her to a really good race, something like the Myer (G1 1600m) on Derby Day."

Meanwhile Sixties (Flying Artie) booked his ticket into the G1 Australian Guineas with a comfortable win in traditional lead-up, the G3 CS Hayes Stakes at Flemington.

It was a fourth win from his past six starts for the Chris Waller-trained Sixties, which firmed into $4 with Ladbrokes for the Australian Guineas, to be run at Flemington on February 28.

The Greg Perry-bred Sixties is a $350,000 Easter Yearling Sale buy for Mr Chua’s Aramco Racing, from the Vinery Stud draft.

And next Saturday’s G1 Blue Diamond Stakes looms as a likely target for Hard Kick (All Too Hard), a dominant debut winner of the Listed Talindert Stakes at Flemington.

The Lindsay Park team of Ben, Will and JD Hayes secured Hard Kick for $140,000 at last year’s Inglis Ready2Race Sale from the Hannover Lodge draft.

His 2.8 length annihilation today was one of the most electric victories of any 2YO this season and as a result, he firmed into a $9 fourth favourite with Ladbrokes for the $2m Blue Diamond at Caulfield in seven days.

“That was one of the most dominant 2YO wins I’ve seen this year and I’m glad it’s one of ours,’’ co-trainer Ben Hayes said.

“He won super impressively and we’ll have to have a discussion with the whole team and see what we do next but if he pulls up fantastically, you wouldn’t put it out of the realm of possibility that he could back up next week [in the Blue Diamond].

“He’s tough, he’s a gelding and off that, he’ll run a strong 1200m.’’

Hard Kick was originally offered at the Inglis Australian Weanling Sale by his breeder Macquarie Stud.

Hard Kick continues the recent domination of Inglis 2YO winners, and was joined by Ciaron’s Star (I Am Invincible), winner of the Pierro Plate at Randwick, bringing her into Golden Slipper contention for trainer Ciaron Maher.

The juvenile victories come a week after three Inglis 2YOs – Closer To Free, Streisand and Agrarian Girl – won open 2YO events at Caulfield and Randwick and Fireball won the $2m Inglis Millennium.