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Source: racing.com
Arrowfield chairman John Messara admits Autumn Glow’s connections face a difficult decision determining the path forward with their super mare.
The Chris Waller-trained five-year-old was a dominant winner of the Group 1 Winx Stakes at Randwick last Saturday and Messara revealed a meeting would take place next week to decide whether her ultimate goal this spring will be G1 The Everest over 1200m or the G1 King Charles III Stakes over 1600m.
Both races are due to be held at Randwick on October 17.
“A lot of people are pushing us towards The Everest, thinking that she’s one of the Australian horses that may be able to challenge the Hong Kong champion, Ka Ying Rising,” Messara told The Verdict podcast on Monday.
“I think personally that he’d be very hard to beat, the times he’s running over there are just incredible, 1.07 something, that’s times we’ve never seen out here in Australia.
“It’s a difficult one. On the other hand, I see her being advantaged by the mile on the same day, the King Charles, where I think that’s about her peak distance. 1400m to 1600m is about what I think she really enjoys and is really taken by it.”
Unibet has Autumn Glow as the second pick in their Everest market at $5, while she’s the clear favourite for the King Charles III Stakes at $1.70.
Should Autumn Glow head towards the King Charles, Messara suggested the G2 7 Stakes on September 19 loomed as her next likely assignment.
Beyond that, the influential owner also is keen on the idea of his superstar tackling a race like the G1 Champions Mile at Flemington on the final day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival.
“She is a really good mare, and I’d love her to race at Flemington,” Messara said.
“I really admire that carnival, I love it and if she could perform there, I’d be thrilled.”
Looking at her long-term future, the breeding barn ultimately beckons for Autumn Glow, but Messara confirmed she will race on into 2027 before then.
“I’m hoping we can take her to Royal Ascot, and we’ll take stock after that as to whether she goes on or whether we breed her at that point,” he said.