Autumn Glow confirmed her status among Australia’s leading racehorses with a commanding return at Randwick on Saturday, defeating fellow star mare Sheza Alibi in the Group 1 Winx Stakes over 1400 metres. The much-anticipated meeting between the pair delivered a clear result, with Autumn Glow too strong in the closing stages.
The Chris Waller-trained mare produced her 12th career victory from 13 starts and added a fourth Group 1 success to an already impressive record. The race was the first Group 1 of the new Australian season and immediately provided a significant marker for the months ahead.
Winx Stakes 2026.
Autumn Glow had been expected to return in strong order after her only defeat, which came over 2000 metres in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick in April. Back at 1400 metres, the mare settled into her race comfortably under James McDonald before finding another gear when the pressure increased.
Sheza Alibi, trained by Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman and ridden by Luke Nolen, chased the winner home after overcoming an awkward beginning. The effort was particularly noteworthy given the ground lost early, with the Victorian mare finishing within one and a half lengths of Autumn Glow. Gringotts completed the first three.
The Winx Stakes was billed as the first major meeting between two mares who have quickly become central figures in Australian racing. Autumn Glow arrived with an established record at the highest level, while Sheza Alibi entered the race after an impressive autumn campaign that included a Group 1 Doncaster Mile victory.
The result gave Autumn Glow the first word in what could become an important rivalry through the spring. Her winning time of 1:21.03 underlined the quality of the performance over the 1400-metre course.
For Waller, the victory also carried the satisfaction of seeing Autumn Glow return in winning form without appearing fully extended. The stable had indicated before the race that there was improvement still to come, and Saturday’s performance suggested the mare could progress further as the campaign develops.
The win also pushed Autumn Glow’s career earnings close to $9.7 million, adding another substantial milestone to a record that already includes victories at the highest level.
Earlier on the Randwick programme, Prima Bella produced one of the day’s quieter but equally significant performances by taking the Group 3 Toy Show Quality.
The lightly raced mare arrived at just her 15th start and registered an eighth career win, securing valuable black-type success against a field that included established Group performers.
Trained by Matt Smith, Prima Bella had shown enough in her recent form to justify the step into stronger company. The six-year-old responded with a determined performance and emerged with an important Group victory that could open further opportunities during the spring.
Her success was another reminder of the depth on the Randwick card, where established Group 1 names shared the programme with horses taking another step forward in their careers.
The Group 3 Carlyon Stakes at Sandown produced another mare in strong form, with Cavalry Girl continuing a productive campaign.
Trained by Tom Dabernig, Cavalry Girl has now recorded four wins and two seconds from six starts during the preparation. The latest victory extended a sequence of three consecutive wins, including two at Stakes level.
The seven-time winner has now earned around $520,000 from 17 starts and is set for another significant test in the Group 1 Moir Stakes at Sandown in a fortnight.
Her progress has been one of the more consistent stories of the Victorian season, and Saturday’s Carlyon Stakes success strengthened her claims for another step up in grade.
At Morphettville, Bootlegger continued his progression by winning the Listed Leon Macdonald Stakes.
The four-year-old led home Air Assault to complete a quinella and secured his second Stakes victory. Trained by Dan Clarken and Oopy MacGillivray, Bootlegger has steadily built his record and now has another valuable black-type success to his name.
The 1400-metre victory adds further interest to his campaign as connections assess the next level of competition.
New Zealand also produced a notable result, with Alabama Lass defeating Media World in the Group 2 Foxbridge Plate at Te Rapa.
The victory took Alabama Lass to seven wins from 14 starts, including five black-type victories, with career earnings approaching $1.1 million.
Trained by Ken and Bev Kelso, the mare has developed into one of the more accomplished performers in the New Zealand ranks. Her latest Group 2 success further strengthened a record that has been built with remarkable consistency.
For all the quality spread across Saturday’s meetings, the main story belonged to Autumn Glow.
The Randwick victory settled the first major question of the new season by showing that the mare remains a formidable force at 1400 metres. Sheza Alibi’s determined effort ensured the contest had genuine substance, while Gringotts added further depth to the result.
The immediate question will now be how the two leading mares are placed through the coming weeks. Autumn Glow has established the early advantage, but the margin and the circumstances of Sheza Alibi’s run suggest there is plenty more to come from both.
For Autumn Glow, however, the opening chapter of the new campaign could hardly have been stronger.
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