It’s rare to see perfection in motion, but Sydney witnessed exactly that at Randwick as Autumn Glow extended her unbeaten streak to eight with a dazzling victory in the $10 million Golden Eagle (1500m) on Saturday.
The four-year-old mare, now officially the new darling of Australian racing, delivered yet another performance steeped in class, courage, and sheer natural brilliance. For trainer Chris Waller, jockey James McDonald, and owners Arrowfield Stud and Hermitage Thoroughbreds, the win was more than a triumph — it was confirmation that they have a generational talent on their hands.
“She’s just everything we try to do,” said Steve Grant of Silverdale Farm, who prepared and sold Autumn Glow as a $1.8 million Inglis Easter yearling in 2023. “When you start teaching them how to be a young horse during that early education period, you know some are special — and we knew she was special.”
Unstoppable rhythm, unshakable poise
The mare’s latest performance only added to her growing legend. Sitting midfield early under McDonald’s calm hands, Autumn Glow cruised into contention turning for home and unleashed a powerful finish to overpower her rivals. The Golden Eagle — one of the richest races on the Australian calendar — became her eighth straight win and pushed her career earnings to a staggering $7.3 million.
Waller, who has trained champions like Winx and Nature Strip, could hardly contain his admiration. “She’s a star. It’s as simple as that,” he said. “Her heart, her determination, her presence — it’s really quite special. To see her open the shoulders at the 100m mark was something to watch.”
Behind her, Sepals, another Inglis graduate and winner of this year’s G1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes, finished second to complete a fitting Inglis quinella in the prestigious race.
A dream written in bloodlines
Bred by Newhaven Park, Autumn Glow is a three-quarter sister to In The Congo, the Golden Rose winner and another Inglis Easter success story. Her pedigree, coupled with the meticulous early work by Silverdale Farm, makes her rise feel almost destined.
Grant reflected emotionally on watching her journey unfold: “It’s remarkable when you get a horse like this. The sky’s the limit for her — they’ve got so much to play with.”
What’s next for Autumn Glow
After two major Group 1 triumphs this spring, including the Epsom Handicap, Autumn Glow will now head for a well-earned spell before returning in the autumn racing carnival — the season that may well define her legacy among the greats of Australian turf.
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