Cover image courtesy of Arrowfield Stud
A chip off the old block: Autumn Boy strikes on debut
There was a lovely line-up of well-bred colts in the 2-year-old colts event at Canterbury on King’s Birthday Monday, and the race didn’t disappoint, even if Autumn Boy (The Autumn Sun) delivered an upset result.
The $1.4 million Wootton Bassett (GB) colt Central Coast, out of the outstanding sprinter and three-time Group 1 winner Sunlight (Zoustar), was a well-backed favourite. When he shot to the lead in the straight, it looked like it was all over, but his stablemate Autumn Boy, ridden by Jason Collett, charged home late to win by a neck, resulting in a Chris Waller-trained quinella, just not in the order most had expected.
Autumn Boy is by The Autumn Sun, whom Waller trained to be a Champion 3-year-old colt with five Group 1 wins. There were uncanny similarities between the pair, especially in the way Autumn Boy lengthened stride and chased down the favourite with determination in the last furlong.
“He's always been a dream to deal with in terms of his work at home. He's very passive. He sort of flies under the radar a bit, and he's probably never had a smack on the bum before, so it's probably a good reason for him to really accelerate and hit the line like he did,” said stable representative Charlie Duckworth.
“He (Autumn Boy) sort of flies under the radar a bit, and he's probably never had a smack on the bum before, so it's probably a good reason for him to really accelerate and hit the line like he did.” - Charlie Duckworth
“He's obviously prepared to get over further, so it’s really exciting and delighted for the Ritchies.
“He is out of a Savabeel mare, so you'd think that 1250 is probably the bottom end of his distance range.
“That's exactly pretty much what I said to Jason pre-race. You'll be hitting the line hard, but whether 1250 is going to be too short for him today, which is what I thought would be the case, but I’m delighted to be wrong.”
Charlie Duckworth | Image courtesy of Chris Waller Racing
A $200,000 purchase for Waller Racing and Mulcaster Bloodstock from the Amarina Farm draft at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Autumn Boy races in the colours of Glenn Ritchie.
Ritchie has been an active investor in recent years, notably purchasing the NZ$2.4 million sale-topping Savabeel filly, who is a full sister to the dual Group 1 winner Orchestral (NZ) (Savabeel) at Karaka this year.
The same silks were carried by another impressive debutant last week, when Frosty Girl (NZ) (Super Seth), also trained by Waller was impressive winning at Warwick Farm.
Autumn Boy as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Autumn Boy is the second winner from the unraced Savabeel mare Rosegarden (NZ), a daughter of Group 3 winner O’Reilly Rose (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}). She is a three-quarter-sister to Shamexpress (NZ), the G1 Newmarket Handicap winner and now a Group 1-producing sire at Windsor Park Stud.
Shamexpress has been in the news recently as the sire of the outstanding and G1 The Everest-bound Ka Ying Rising (NZ).
Since producing Autumn Boy, Rosegarden (NZ) has delivered a yearling colt by Hellbent and is due to foal to the in-form Hellbent again this spring.
Pillow Fight packs a punch on debut
It was a tenacious and gutsy win by the Bjorn Baker-trained Zoustar filly Pillow Fight on debut over 1250 metres at Canterbury on Monday.
Wearing the colours made famous by the likes of Stefi Magnetica (All Too Hard) and Storm Boy (Justify {USA}) in recent times, the well-bred filly had shown promising glimpses of talent at the trials.
She put in a bold performance to gun down long-time leader Rosa Incanta (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) in the shadows of the post, with jockey Rachel King producing a well-timed ride. The favourite, Sequista (D’Argento), was slightly unlucky, caught up in traffic before flashing home late to finish third, beaten just under a length. She’s definitely one to follow.
Baker’s Racing Manager Luke Hilton revealed the team has always had time for the daughter of Zoustar.
“She's always been a lovely filly. We've had a good opinion of her, but the more Bjorn's done with her, the better she's got,” Hilton said.
“She's (Pillow Fight) always been a lovely filly. We've had a good opinion of her, but the more Bjorn's done with her, the better she's got.” - Luke Hilton
“He's been patient with her. He's given her a number of gallops at home and she's had some good trials, and she's just got better and better. She's got a great attitude, very relaxed, but she's an exciting filly. I think she's got a big future.”
Rachel King has been aboard in her past two trials and is a key rider for the Baker stable.
“It probably wasn't ideal sort of facing the breeze down the back, but she's a very casual customer,” said King.
“She jumped well today, but went straight to sleep early and even though I was facing the wind she wasn't spending any unnecessary energy.
“She (Pillow Fight) jumped well today, but went straight to sleep early and even though I was facing the wind she wasn't spending any unnecessary energy.” - Rachel King
“I had to get her moving probably even sooner than I wanted to just because I know she's the type of filly that does take a little bit of winding up.
“She’s always had that good level of ability, but her attitude helps her because she is super relaxed about life in general. She's only going to improve. I probably didn't quite expect her to do it today, but it’s a nice surprise.”
Pillow Fight was purchased for $375,000 by Bjorn Baker Racing, Cunningham Thoroughbreds and Clarke Bloodstock from the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Pillow Fight as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
She is the fourth live foal from Slumber Party (Snitzel), and all four of her named foals have been winners. Slumber Party was talented on the track, winning over 1350 metres and placing in both the G3 BJ McLachlan Stakes and the Listed Gimcrack Stakes.
Pillow Fight hails from the extended family of outstanding sire Not A Single Doubt, exciting young sire King’s Legacy, and classy Group 1 winner Oohood (I Am Invincible).
Since producing Pillow Fight, Slumber Party has foaled a weanling colt by Justify (USA), who will be offered through Durham Park’s draft at the 2025 Inglis Great Southern Sale on Friday. She is due to foal to So You Think (NZ) this spring.
Lot 228 - Justify (USA) x Slumber Party (colt) | Image courtesy of Inglis
Barbray sharp when it counts to go back-to-back
Barbray (Zoustar) brought up a race-to-race double for Chris Waller and played his part in a treble for Waller at Canterbury on the day, it was also a venue double for Australia’s champion sire-in-waiting Zoustar, following Pillow Fight’s earlier victory.
Barbray had the flashing light on him when breaking his maiden at Goulburn on May 22 with a dominant near seven-length win over the consistent Malbork Castle (Castelvecchio). That promise was franked on Monday as the promising gelding made a smooth transition to metropolitan Benchmark 64 company.
Video: Watch race replay of Barbray, video courtesy of Racing NSW
Lady Boss (Street Boss {USA}) rolled along in front under apprentice Anna Roper over the 1550 metres, with Barbray settling a few lengths off the speed under Nash Rawiller. The favourite, Blue Willow (Blue Point {Ire}), settled last in the small field.
Just as it looked like Roper might have pinched it, Barbray surged at the 100 metres and put the race beyond doubt. Blue Willow ran on strongly up the inside to claim second and is one to watch, being a half-sister to the Champion Anamoe, while Lady Boss battled on well for third.
Stable representative Charlie Duckworth commented about the win “He's a nice progressive horse who has taken a little bit of time to work out his craft.
“He's (Barbray) a nice progressive horse who has taken a little bit of time to work out his craft.” - Charlie Duckworth
“It took him a few starts to break through for his maiden win, but now he has stepped up in grade and won in good style today.
“Nash (Rawiller) was very complimentary about him and said that the leader actually got a lovely time in front, so he had to be pretty decent today to not be out-sprinted, and he ran over the top of them.
“It was a pleasing win and hopefully he can go through the grades, he was well bought by Guy Mulcaster.”
Barbray as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Barbray was purchased by Guy Mulcaster and Chris Waller Racing for $240,000 from the 2023 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale, offered by Segenhoe Stud.
His dam Sempre Libera (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}) was a juvenile winner who also finished fourth in both the G2 Tea Rose Stakes and G3 Royal Randwick Stakes. She has also produced the stakes-placed six-time winner Xerri (Snitzel) and comes from a rich family.
Sempre Libera is a half-sister to Merlene De Lago (Encosta De Lago), a stakes winner in South Africa, and to Shirley (Zabeel {NZ}), who was unraced, but is the dam of G1 VRC Oaks winner Dear Demi (Dehere {USA}).
Barbray’s grandam is the outstanding 2-year-old Merlene (Danehill {USA}), winner of both the G1 Golden Slipper and G1 Sires’ Produce Stakes. At stud, Merlene produced nine individual winners, including the aforementioned Merlene De Lago.
Sempre Libera | Image courtesy of Sportpix
Since foaling Barbray, Sempre Libera has produced a 2-year-old filly by Wootton Bassett (GB) that sold to Ciaron Maher Racing for $160,000 at the 2024 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale, a yearling filly by Home Affairs that sold to Marsh Racing and Dylan Johnson Bloodstock for $300,000 at this years version of the same sale. She has unfortunately missed the last two seasons to Home Affairs and then Proisir.
