Autumn Glow controls 7 Stakes to extend near-perfect record
Autumn Glow defeated stablemate Aeliana at Randwick, recording her 13th win from 14 starts before a planned King Charles III Stakes appearance.
Autumn Glow maintained her near-perfect record with a controlled victory in Saturday’s Group 2 7 Stakes over 1600 metres at Royal Randwick.
Ridden by James McDonald for Chris Waller, the $1.16 favourite led the seven-runner field before drawing clear to defeat stablemate Aeliana by 1¼ lengths. Ceolwulf finished another half-neck away in third.
The five-year-old mare completed the race in 1:33.78, running her final 600 metres in 33.58, and improved her record to 13 wins and one third from 14 starts. Her listed earnings reaching close to $10 million.
McDonald was content to control the tempo after Autumn Glow found the front. Gringotts and Ceolwulf applied pressure near the top of the straight, but the mare balanced and accelerated away over the closing stages.
“Three quarter pace around then dash home,” McDonald said. “They came to me, let her balance up and she went away with it. She did what we needed her to do today. She had fun doing it. Ears pricked the whole way.”
McDonald said leading had not been a firm pre-race plan, but Autumn Glow took control once she was allowed to stride. He expects further improvement when she races third-up.
Waller said the performance showed the mare could adapt to different race shapes.
“She can put herself there or can go back, she just has a great turn of foot,” Waller said. “There was a sprint from the 500m when it got serious so it was good to see her lift and draw clear in the end.”
Aeliana’s late work secured a stable quinella for Waller. Jason Collett’s mount pushed through over the final 50 metres after the controlled early tempo made it difficult for those settling behind Autumn Glow.
The victory followed Autumn Glow’s first-up success in the Group 1 Winx Stakes over 1400 metres at Randwick. She has now won consecutive stakes races during a campaign structured around the Group 1 King Charles III Stakes over 1600 metres on October 17.
Connections chose the King Charles III Stakes instead of The Everest after discussions between Arrowfield Stud, Hermitage Thoroughbreds, Waller and McDonald.
“I’m happy and comfortable with the decision,” Waller said. “I don’t have second thoughts.”
Waller also indicated Autumn Glow had improvement available after her second run of the campaign.
“I’m pretty happy where she is at,” he said. “There is some improvement to come, we haven’t screwed her down yet.”
The result gave Waller and McDonald a third consecutive win in the race after Fangirl took the 2024 and 2025 editions.
Other highlights at Randwick saw Mazu claim the Group 2 The Shorts in an all-the-way success and Bangkok Hottie win the Group 2 Tea Rose Stakes after her recent victory in the Furious Stakes.
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