Autumn Glow (The Autumn Sun) extended her unbeaten streak to a perfect 10 with a commanding victory in today’s G1 Verry Elleegant Stakes at Randwick Racecourse. The 4YO superstar faced her toughest test yet, including one-time Cox Plate favourite Sir Delius, but made it look effortless, striding away to another visually stunning triumph.
Bred by Newhaven Park Stud and sold through Silverdale Farm, Autumn Glow was a sale-topping $1.8 million purchase by Arrowfield Stud and Hermitage Thoroughbreds at the Easter Yearling Sale. Trained by Chris Waller at Randwick, she is among 115 G1-winning Inglis graduates since 2018, and her performance today only reinforced her status as one of the sport’s brightest stars.
Silverdale’s Steve Grant, who watched the mare’s dominance unfold, was full of praise. “It’s incredible, isn’t it? She is something else. It’s a pleasure just to have a little part of her to remember. She’s so cool, calm and collected, and when JMac asks her to put in, she’s got it. It’s something amazing,” Grant said.
Trainer Chris Waller highlighted the mare’s versatility and future plans. “She just does everything right. It doesn’t matter where she draws, she’s up on speed, she just puts herself there. Next is the G1 George Ryder at Randwick in three weeks, and I’d love to try her at 2000m in the G1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes. She’d need a dominant win next to give us that ultimate satisfaction; otherwise, it’s probably the Doncaster at 1600m,” Waller explained.
Autumn Glow’s victory takes her career earnings to $7,577,000, cementing her as one of the premier mares in Australian racing.
Verona Rose Earns Spot in G1 Coolmore Classic at Randwick
Earlier on the Randwick Racecourse card, Verona Rose (Castelvecchio) stormed to victory in the G2 Guy Walter Stakes, booking her place in the G1 Coolmore Classic. Purchased by Portelli for $40,000 at the Classic Yearling Sale from Arrowfield, the 4YO has matured physically and mentally this preparation, showing she is ready for another top-level challenge.
“I thought physically she had improved this preparation, and here she is,” Portelli said. “She has got a pedigree that should run two miles, but she’s brilliant. In the Coolmore, down in the weights, she should be very competitive.” Verona Rose’s career earnings now exceed $700,000.
Rising Stars Across the Country
In Perth, The Crimson Pirate (Trapeze Artist) captured back-to-back wins with a victory in the Listed Lex Piper Stakes at Ascot. An Easter Yearling Sale graduate of Milburn Creek, the 9-start veteran has finished in the quinella eight times, bred by Oakland Park Stud.
Meanwhile, at Cranbourne, Inglis Digital graduates dominated the Listed Abell Stakes trifecta, with Miss Icelandic (Deep Field) claiming victory over Corniche and Celsius Star. Purchased online for $50,000 by John Noblett in December 2024, the mare had previously been offered at both the Premier Yearling Sale and Australian Weanling Sale.
Autumn Glow, Verona Rose, and the emerging stars across Australia demonstrate the strength and depth of the country’s breeding programs, promising more thrilling performances in the months ahead.
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