In a full-circle moment for his trainer, Chris Waller, Autumn Boy maintained a strong family line of Caulfield Guineas (G1) winners when taking out the AU$3 million classic in a top-class display at Caulfield Oct. 11.
A dual winner from his two starts as a juvenile, including in Eagle Farm's Tattersall's Stakes in June, Autumn Boy returned as a 3-year-old with a hugely promising runner-up effort behind Sixties in the Sept. 13 Ming Dynasty Quality (G3).
Stepping up to elite-level company for the first time in the Golden Rose (G1) Sept. 27, the son of The Autumn Sun disappointed slightly with a seventh-placed run—beaten over eight lengths—behind stablemate Beiwacht.
Despite that below-par effort, supporters of Autumn Boy seemed undeterred and backed the colt accordingly into an AU$4.20 second-favorite on Saturday, support that would prove justified.
Ridden by Damian Lane, Autumn Boy was mid-pack turning for home and angling for a clear run. However, once finding daylight, he powered down the outside of his rivals and hit the front with 100 meters left to run, finding plenty to fend off the late challenge of Planet Red by 0.8 lengths. There was a further 1.7 lengths back to Observer in third place.
Autumn Boy's victory not only emulated his sire's devastating success in the race for Waller in 2018, but also that of his grandsire Redoute's Choice back in 1999.
"We're proud of all the horses that come through the stable," said Waller. "But when we've got champions like The Autumn Sun and we've got sons and daughters, it's pretty special. That looked his race. We like to just identify talent and then try and get them to that big ticket item.
"Today's such an important race in the horse's career, a colt who announces them on the big stage. Glenn Ritchie (owner) and his wife, they've been so supportive of us, Charlie (Duckworth, assistant trainer) and myself. They've become good friends of ours and kept investing, kept investing, and we've managed to buy them a really nice horse."
As for future plans for this now stud-bound colt, Waller downplayed a potential crack at the Oct. 25 Cox Plate (G1).
"Not sure. I don't normally because they're still babies," the trainer said of the Cox Plate. "He's only had four or five starts, I think. So, it'll be unlikely for us, but we'll see what comes out next week, you've got the luxury of just sitting tight. He's not overly raced so you can do it, but we'll have to see how good Via Sistina's going."
In becoming Waller's second elite-level winner in the space of seven days following on from Autumn Glow's Epsom Handicap (G1) success Oct. 4, Autumn Boy was also providing his Arrowfield Stud-based sire The Autumn Sun with a fifth individual Group 1 winner—and his second in the space of a week.
Bred by Richard Rutherford and purchased for $200,000 by his trainer and Guy Mulcaster out of the Amarina Farm draft at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Autumn Boy is one of two winners from three to race out of the unraced Savabeel mare Rosegarden, herself from the extended family of group 1 winner and group 1 sire Shamexpress.
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Transatlantic Goes Pillar-to-Post in Toorak
Queensland-based trainer Tony Gollan struck an elated character at Caulfield on Saturday after witnessing his determined 5-year-old Transatlantic go pillar-to-post in the Toorak Handicap (G1).
Ridden expertly by Mark Zahra, Transatlantic ran the race at a tempo to suit and, having kept extra in reserve for the home straight, kept on willingly to deny the persistent challenge of Evaporate by 0.2 lengths. The front pair finished a further 1.2 lengths clear of Leica Lucy back in third place.
"I've had one of those preparations where I've been beaten point one, point one," Gollan said. "But I was never really worried, I'd always planned to be here today. I think those defeats got him in here at the right weight.
"Mark (Zahra) executed his plan beautifully, he wanted to be aggressive that first hundred (meters), negate that barrier (in nine). That's what he did, and that was the winning tactic.
"He had a plan; he had a fit horse, we got him in the right weight. Mark did the rest, you know? Horse and jockey, great combo, great to be back at Caulfield winning group 1 races."
Transatlantic was an AU$360,000 purchase for Gollan, Harbour Equine, and John Foote Bloodstock from the 2024 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale out of Segenhoe Thoroughbreds—who have remained in the ownership.
"We gelded him at the end of his 3-year-old year and that was the making of him," Gollan said. "He's a really busy horse at home, I just thought a trip down here in a new environment, training him away from his home base. He's always had the potential and the ability to go to this level, and the trip away has made him, and he's a really quality horse. I don't see why he couldn't be a weight-for-age horse in the future."
Bred by Sir Owen Glenn's Go Bloodstock, Transatlantic is the third winner and first at stakes level from three to race out of the ATC Oaks (G1)-winning Darci Drama mare Gust Of Wind, who was the last horse to ever defeat champion mare Winx.
Gust Of Wind has a juvenile colt from the first crop of Newgate Farm's Stay Inside, who will be offered as Lot 26 at next week's Inglis Ready2Race Sale Oct. 16.
Transatlantic became the 25th individual group 1 winner for his late multiple champion sire Snitzel.
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Globe Pulls Upset in Might And Power
In a field of just four, the Might And Power Stakes (G1) at Caulfield Saturday was billed as a match between Treasurethe Moment and Buckaroo, but it was Globe who upstaged his more fancied rivals with a commanding three-length victory.
The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr.-trained gelding took control early, dictating a steady tempo before skipping clear in the straight. Treasurethe Moment chased gamely for second, but could only get to within three lengths of the winner, with Buckaroo another 0.8 lengths away in third.
For Price, the decision to stay in Melbourne rather than contest the Hill Stakes (G2) in Sydney proved a masterstroke.
"It was a heist, wasn't it?" Price said. "But you know, it's a horse race, not a mathematical formula. We get up every day and dream these dreams."
Price admitted the Might And Power hadn't been part of Globe's original campaign but said history had shown the race could throw up surprises.
"It was one of those races where you just have to roll the dice," he said. "He was beaten in a Ballarat Cup over 2,000 metres (about 1 1/4 miles) as an immature horse, but he's much stronger now."
Winning rider Blake Shinn said Globe's natural on-pace style and the small field were key factors in the upset.
"We went in as a bit of an underdog, but in these small tactical races, anything can happen," Shinn said. "We had no pressure as the obvious leader—Globe's a natural front-runner—and it worked perfectly."
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