Autumn Boy Gives McDonald Record Group 1 Victory

Chris Waller confirmed the exciting Autumn Boy (AUS) would race on next season instead of a quick exit to stud after the colt gave James McDonald a landmark win in the March 21 Rosehill Guineas (G1) at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse. In a first try beyond the 1,600-meter (about 1-mile) distance of his Caulfield Guineas (G1) triumph, Autumn Boy showed races such as the Cox Plate (G1) would be on his horizon in the spring with this effortless victory over 2,000 meters (about 1 1/4 miles). The headline went to McDonald and his 130th group 1 success—taking him past the old record held by Damien Oliver. With the remarkable McDonald still only 34, it's a safe bet that before he's done he'll be dozens clear of the mark set by Oliver, who was 51 when he retired in 2023. As for McDonald's vehicle to the record, Autumn Boy showed his star quality in beating his seven rivals, despite being sent out as the second favorite behind Melbourne colt Observer (AUS). Jumping from gate 3, McDonald was content to trail his Godolphin rival in the run, settling in the one-one. As VRC Derby (G1) winner Observer set out after longshot leader Bingi early in the straight and Autumn Boy loomed behind, it looked like the much hoped-for match race might play out. But Observer was quickly under pressure from Craig Williams as Autumn Boy ranged up beside. He quickly put the race to bed, ultimately winning with a clear 2-length gap over another Godolphin runner in Bjorn Baker's Green Spaces (AUS), while Observer clung on for third. Waller said he was delighted to see Autumn Boy pass his 2,000-meter test, and pleased his owner Glenn Ritchie was happy to let him keep racing. "We wanted to try that," Waller said of the distance. "Great owners, the Ritchies. I think the most disappointing thing last preparation (was) when I mentioned that he may have a short racing career, because he's such a wonderful colt. "They said, 'Oh, we're not in a rush to retire him, we want to keep them racing.' "So that's great. And it's good to see these colts race on and I'm sure he will. So yeah, we ticked the box for 2,000 meters. His dad won it (the Rosehill Guineas). He's won it. And yeah, we'll pick out some nice races in the spring for him." McDonald said it felt "special" to break the group 1 record and expressed his admiration for Oliver, especially his 2002 Melbourne Cup (G1) win aboard Media Puzzle just days after his brother Jason's death in a riding accident. "It's lovely," he said of the record, "but it's a testament to the horses that I ride because they are phenomenal. "There's no two ways about it, that I do ride the best horses and most favorites each race, and I'm blessed to have that opportunity. "To get to a mark like this, it's obviously special. Especially with how I look up to Damien Oliver." Bred by Richard Rutherford and purchased for AU$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. Autumn Glow Remains Perfect in George Ryder Just when you thought it wasn't possible, Autumn Glow (AUS) became even more impressive in storming to win number 11 in Saturday's George Ryder Stakes (G1), earning the tag of "champion" from her trainer and some awestruck wonder from her jockey. The start before, Waller's unbeaten budding phenomenon was fully stretched by her most worthy stablemate Aeliana (NZ), having to show how much fight she has beneath all that class with a half-length success in Randwick's Verry Elleegant Stakes (G1). It was her smallest victory margin so far. On Saturday, she recorded her widest, roaring into top gear in the home straight to dispose of a quality field of rivals by 2 3/4 lengths. Ridden of course by McDonald—giving him his 131st group 1 win and making him the first jockey to win three of the five elite races on Rosehill's big day—Autumn Glow settled sixth of the 12 after being sent out at Winx odds again, at AU$1.28. McDonald brought her four wide on the turn and the procession began. Autumn Glow whooshed past the quartet in front of her then reeled in the tiring leader Beiwacht (AUS) like he was a Benchmark 64 horse, rather than the group 1-winning colt he is. The 4-year-old would have won by far more if McDonald had ridden her out. Instead, he went to the line with one hand on the wheel of this awesome Thoroughbred machine, and the other pointing to the mare's head to highlight the star of the show. Autumn Glow had group 1 winners chasing her tail in second, third, and fourth placings. Ciaron Maher's Gringotts (NZ) and Bjorn Baker's Pericles (AUS)—both 6-year-old geldings—came in ahead of Lady Shenandoah (AUS), another Waller-trained 4-year-old mare who was once thought pretty special herself before this other contemporary came along. Rarely, if ever, can there have been a more emphatic validation of a yearling sale's top lot. Arrowfield boss John Messara picked out the daughter of his own stallion The Autumn Sun (AUS), early in the week, when the Newhaven Park-bred filly was presented at Inglis Easter Yearling Sale in 2023. He would later disclose he took one look only, lest he reveal his enthusiasm to rival bidders. Messara ended up making her the highest-priced offering of the sale, when he paid AU$1.8 million along with Hermitage Thoroughbreds, with whom Arrowfield had raced The Autumn Sun. With her richest payday coming through last October's AU$10 million Golden Eagle, Autumn Glow has now netted more than AU$8.6 million in prize money following Saturday's injection of AU$580,000. Much, much more is to come, as Waller finds himself again managing the breathtaking win streak of a Thoroughbred superstar, so soon after the 33 in a row of the great Winx. On Saturday, Autumn Glow matched former Perth sprinter Barakey in going unbeaten through her first 11 starts. The only Australian horse above them on that table is the great 25-from-25 Black Caviar. Saturday's win came as icing on the cake for Waller and McDonald. The jockey had caught and passed Damien Oliver's Australasian record of 129 elite-level victories, and Waller and McDonald also broke the Australian record for group 1s together in moving to 56, past the 54 of Tommy Smith and George Moore. And with his treble, Waller moved to 192 career majors and within touching distance of the 200 barrier, eclipsed only by Smith and Bart Cummings, who so fittingly finished together, on 246. After the anticipation of McDonald's record, Autumn Glow's win was pure celebration, laced with no small amount of awe. "I guess the last two races were sort of pressure, pressure, without pulling ourselves up," Waller said. "To get that out of the way and then to deal with a champion in the next race, it's pretty special." McDonald added: "She's important. Let's not beat around the bush. She's 11 from 11. People are here to come out and see her, and she's got such an amazing fanfare now—it's growing. "It's incredible—the feeling you get off these horses, and it's special to witness people pin their eyeballs on her. I thought Anamoe was a big deal. This horse has taken it to a new level." Autumn Glow is supremely bred, being the fourth foal out of Via Africa, South Africa's champion sprinter of 2013-14 and a three-time elite-level victor, and the dam of another top tier winner in present day Newgate Farm sire In The Congo (AUS). The Autumn Sun—who covered 178 mares at AU$66,000 at Arrowfield last spring after having 2024 off with injury—sits second on the Australian general sires' table, behind his late barnmate Snitzel. Aeliana Earns Ranvet Glory One Waller-McDonald super mare reveled in the absence of another as Aeliana claimed her second elite-level victory in Saturday's Ranvet Stakes at Rosehill. Star Thoroughbreds' 4-year-old had been unlucky enough to run into Autumn Glow in both her previous two starts and showed her class in running second to the budding phenomenon both times. But with Autumn Glow engaged later on Saturday's glittering Rosehill card, Aeliana took her moment in the sun, relieving punters who'd taken her AU$1.60 starting price with a fighting victory. McDonald sat second-last in the run as the Waller-trained stablemate Lindermann (AUS) set what was only a middling pace under the wily Nash Rawiller. Lindermann, on fresh legs, gave a strong kick to take a 2-length lead into the straight as Aeliana came after him. While the resuming second-favorite Sir Delius looked for a moment like he was about to come after them, instead the front pair pulled away to fight a fierce battle over the last 100 meters. Though Lindermann battled doggedly, McDonald was able to lift Aeliana to victory in the last few bounds. Bought at Karaka by Star Thoroughbreds for AU$180,000 from the draft of Rich Hill Stud—who bred her with fellow Kiwis Nearco Stud—Aeliana has now amassed AU$3.5 million in prize money from 17 starts, with five wins and seven minor placings. Marhoona Prevails in The galaxy Last year's Golden Slipper heroine Marhoona (AUS) doubled her group 1 tally when landing Saturday's The Galaxy (G1) at Rosehill in dramatic fashion. Trained by Michael Freedman, the 3-year-old filly kept on strongly down the center of the track under Kerrin McEvoy to prevail by a neck over Jedibeel (NZ) in an extremely close finish that involved the first six home. There was a further head back to Mazu (AUS) in third place. "I don't think I've had a horse that's just got as much tenacity as she does," said Freedman. "She sort of looked out on her feet at the 100 meters there and she just refused to lay down, a bit like the Slipper last year. What a filly. … She's just got such an incredible will to win." Jigsaw Lands William Reid The Cindy Alderson-trained Jigsaw (AUS) maintained his excellent run of form when producing a career-best effort to take out Saturday's William Reid Stakes (G1) at Caulfield Racecourse. Having won his previous five starts, including New Zealand's Sistema Railway (G1), the 7-year-old gelding proved not for denying as he turned away Angel Capital (AUS) by a half-length. There was a further nose back to last year's Blue Diamond winner Devil Night (AUS) in third. Winning rider Logan Bates has now partnered the son of Manhattan Rain (AUS) in his last seven outings, with six of those now being victories. "What a horse, just to come back from pretty much nowhere and, this preparation, I mean, you look at him now, he's just the ultimate professional," Bates said.