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Source: justhorseracing.com.au
James McDonald won’t yet put Autumn Glow in the same bracket as Hong Kong superstar Romantic Warrior, but he concedes she is on the way.
Turning in a performance that McDonald admitted gave him goosebumps, the mare swept to a 2-1/2 length win over Aeliana in Saturday’s Apollo Stakes (1400m) at Randwick to extend her unbeaten sequence to nine.
Romantic Warrior has won 15 of his 20 starts, eight of those victories coming with McDonald in the saddle, and while the gelding is the champion hoop’s benchmark, he says Autumn Glow has the potential to put her name alongside his if she can continue on her current path.
“It’s very special. Just the way and the ease with which she’s doing it,” McDonald said.
“You’ve got to remember, there were a lot of stayers in the race. But I’m riding a very good horse in Hong Kong (Romantic Warrior) and she’s on a trajectory where she is improving all the time, she is lightly raced, and let’s just say, the world is her oyster.”
Autumn Glow was stunning, trailing the speed and ambling to her rivals before quickly asserting her dominance and shooting clear.
For trainer Chris Waller, it is proof she has returned in top order as he continues to weigh up her most suitable campaign target.
“The first run of the prep is the most important. It tells you where they are,” Waller said.
“You can have as many track gallops, trials and exhibition gallops but until they’re under race pressure, you don’t really know.
“It tells me she’s in a pretty good position.”
Autumn Glow’s next two starts will be in the Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) and George Ryder Stakes (1500m) before connections decide whether to keep her around the mile or stretch to the 2000m of the Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
If she does head towards the latter, she will almost certainly clash again with Aeliana, who pleased Waller with her return.
“Aeliana was brilliant. It was good to see she can take up a spot if she needs to as well. She was put in the race and she was still strong late,” he said.
Lindermann finished third to give Waller the trifecta.