Jockey Kerrin McEvoy was full of admiration for Autumn Glow after her dazzling victory in the Epsom Handicap (G1) at Randwick Oct. 4.
The unbeaten mare overcame a wide draw, a hefty 54.5 kilograms, and her first attempt at a mile to record her seventh win from as many starts. Adding to the merit of her performance, Autumn Glow lost a shoe mid-race. Fully Lit was second, with Pericles finishing third.
McEvoy admitted he was briefly concerned when she appeared to flatten out on the home turn before finding another gear.
"She pulled a shoe, so that might have been part of it," McEvoy said. "For a hundred meters or so, I was a bit worried, but then she was good. She changed onto her fresh leg on straightening and away she went. She is a champion in the making, I think. I don't like calling them champions too early, but she has gone to a new level today."
Trainer Chris Waller echoed McEvoy's admiration, though he was quick to focus on the bigger picture. The win brought back memories of Winx, who claimed the same race a decade ago, though Waller was careful not to draw direct comparisons.
"Yes, it has (reminded me of Winx). But there's a long way to go," Waller said. "We'll just place her right. It's all about group 1s for me. Probably one more run this prep—maybe the Golden Eagle, or if not, the Empire Rose. They're both great races and mean a lot to me."
Meanwhile, Arrowfield Stud's John Messara admitted that Autumn Glow could be on her way to earning a similar status as that of Arrowfield's five-time group 1-wininng mare Miss Finland.
"It's hard to beat what Miss Finland did 20 years ago, but Autumn Glow is working her way towards getting to that level," Messara said.
"She's well and truly on her way. It's early days for her, she's only had the seven starts, but she's unbeaten and today was very, very tough. She met all the challenges."
"I was very nervous, but she's got enormous depth. She's very game, and she's got a good cardiovascular system and a great stride. And losing a shoe 300 meters from the finish wouldn't have helped.
"We don't know what the bottom for her is really, because she's met every challenge we've put before her. She's very, very exciting."
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Freedman finds Star in Flight Stakes Heroine Apocalyptic
Michael Freedman has handled plenty of top-tier horses, but none have stirred his excitement like Apocalyptic, who confirmed her status as Sydney's standout filly with a dominant victory in the Flight Stakes (G1) at Randwick Saturday.
The rising star added the race to her earlier Princess Series triumphs in the Furious Stakes (G2) and Tea Rose Stakes (G2).
Ridden by Tommy Berry, the favorite overcame an awkward draw to settle second and took control in the straight, surging clear for a 1.2 lengths win over group 2 winner Within The Law, with Karinska another 0.2 lengths away in third.
Freedman said the positive ride hadn't been the original plan but praised Berry's decision-making: "We didn't necessarily want to be up as close as we were, but when Tommy looked like being caught three-wide without cover, sitting up at the leader's girth became Plan B. Great turn of foot. Great filly."
Freedman will monitor how Apocalyptic comes through the run before locking in her next target, with Melbourne options such as the Thousand Guineas (G1) or Empire Rose Stakes (G1) both under consideration.
"I haven't been (this excited before)," Freedman said. "It's quite rare to see a horse come out in her first four starts—she was unlucky first-up—and then go group 2, group 2, group 1. It's pretty rare air. She's a special filly. I'm a bit lost for words. You spend a lot of time trying to find horses like this and the world is her oyster."
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Royal Supremacy gives Make Believe Third Group 1 Winner
Ballylinch Stud stallion Make Believe was supplied with his third individual group 1 winner on Saturday when Royal Supremacy gamely landed The Metropolitan (G1) at Randwick.
The Ciaron Maher-trained 4-year-old tracked favourite Soul Of Spain into the final bend and, after winding up ominously, got the better of the Waller-trained import to win the group 1 by 0.8 lengths. Stablemate Juja Kibo finished just 0.3 lengths further adrift in third.
Bred by John O'Connor, Royal Supremacy was a 65,000gns purchase for JS Bloodstock and Andrew Balding out of Ballylinch Stud's 2022 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 2 draft before being purchased privately by owners Australian Bloodstock.
He is one of two stakes winners out of the winning Iffraaj mare Adelasia, the other being listed winner Adelaise. The mare is herself a half-sister to group winners Fight Club and Flambo. Make Believe stood the 2025 northern hemisphere breeding season at Ballylinch Stud for a fee of €8,000 (approx. AU$14,217).
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All Roads Lead to the Cup for Dominant Turnbull Winner Sir Delius
High-priced import Sir Delius gave another strong indication of why connections paid AU$2.7 million for him by storming to an imperious victory in the Turnbull Stakes (G1) at Flemington Saturday.
In his first clash with Via Sistina, and as a $7 chance to her $2.60, the Waterhouse-Bott-trained entry hugely outshone the Horse of the Year, relegating her to a well-beaten third as he exploded late for a 1.8 lengths win.
Sir Delius was forced to race wide without cover from the outside gate of 14, including through the early stages of Flemington's sweeping large arc, before Craig Williams managed to tuck him in with cover in the one-one position from the halfway mark.
After Blake Shinn aboard Antino was forced into an early wide move to share the lead from the 800 meters, Williams gained a lovely smother in the middle of the pack on Sir Delius, while James McDonald tried to improve from the read on Via Sistina.
Antino had the lead from the 350 meters but, in the clear, Sir Delius came out after him, drew level at the 150 meters, then produced an electrifying burst of acceleration, under second top-weight of 58 kilograms, to put the race to bed. Via Sistina continued her run into third place, but was 2.2 lengths off the winner.
Despite their finishing order, Via Sistina still holds sway over Sir Delius in betting for the Cox Plate (G1), which the 8-year-old mare won with a record time and margin last year. But the 5-year-old Sir Delius is now alone at the top of betting for the Melbourne Cup (G1), at just AU$3.50.
After six starts in France highlighted by a group 3 success and a group 1 third over 2,400 meters, Sir Delius topped last year's Tattersalls Autumn Horses In Training Sale, when purchased by Waterhouse-Bott, Sir Owen Glenn's Go Bloodstock, De Burgh Equine, and McKeever Bloodstock. Their price of 1,300,000gns, or AU$2.7 million, was a record for the sale, smashing the previous mark of 1,000,000gns.
The bold play has reaped instant dividends. In just four starts in Australia, Sir Delius has earned AU$1.23 million, on top of the AU$272,000 he made in his six French runs.
"He's a most exciting horse," said co-trainer Gai Waterhouse, celebrating her 163rd group 1—her 29th with Adrian Bott—and praising Williams for his 86th.
Williams said he was unsure about Sir Delius's maximum distance, but said the Melbourne Cup (G1) was well worth trying for a horse who's already shaping as a hot stallion prospect.
"I just said (Sir Delius) will never have 55-and-a-half kilos in the Melbourne Cup again," Williams said.
One of 169 stakes winners globally for Juddmonte's super sire Frankel , Sir Delius is the stallion's 19th in the Southern Hemisphere. That group now has four group 1 winners, the others being Australian-breds Hungry Heart and Converge, and British import Mirage Dancer.
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