Juvenile Summary: New stakes winner for The Autumn Sun with exciting colt

Cover image courtesy of Arrowfield

The Autumn Sun shines in Queensland with stakes winner number nine

Saturday’s Listed Tattersall’s Stakes for 2-year-olds was won by Chris Waller-trained Autumn Boy (The Autumn Sun) who was coming off a debutant victory in Sydney last start beating short favourite Central Coast (Wootton Bassett {GB}) who has since been a winner.

The unbeaten 2-year-old colt sat quietly for jockey James McDonald, then romped away in the final stages to win easily by 1.9l from Kris Hansen-trained filly Sheza Alibi (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}) with Annabel and Rob Archibald-trained filly Kujenga (King’s Legacy) in third.

“I think his price on debut was inflated because Central Coast was so short in the market that day. Being by The Autumn Sun out of a Savabeel mare, we did think 1250 metres might have been a bit too short and sharp for him that day. But he was excellent that day and he's just taken such a big step forward since then,” said stable representative Charlie Duckworth.

“We don't know where the limit is with him, which is exciting especially as he's a colt. So he's completely untapped.” With The Autumn Sun’s stock generally being better at three, as evidenced by his three Classic winners Autumn Angel, Coco Sun, and Vibrant Sun, the future looks bright for Autumn Boy.

Sold by Amarina Farm for $200,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale purchased by Chris Waller and Guy Mulcaster, Autumn Boy becomes the first stakes winner from The Autumn Sun’s third crop, and his ninth overall.

Autumn Boy is the third foal of unraced Rosegarden (NZ) (Savabeel) whose first foal is a winner and second foal, 3-year-old filly Souad (Merchant Navy) ran fourth in the Listed Calway Gal Stakes last season. She has a yearling colt by Hellbent and is back in foal to him.

Rosegarden is a daughter of Group 3 winner O’Reilly Rose (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}), a three-quarter sister to Group 1 sire Shamexpress (NZ).

Listed Oaklands Plate goes to Stokes again

The last two winners of the Listed Oaklands Plate have gone on to win a Group 1 race at three, including last year’s winner Femminile (Dundeel {NZ}) who won this season’s G1 South Australian Derby for trainer Phillip Stokes. The 2025 edition went to Femminile’s stablemate 2-year-old colt Matahga (NZ) (Tivaci) who came from behind under jockey Jacob Opperman to dive at the line and beat the front running Hayes brothers-trained filly Ethereum Girl (Maurice {Jpn}) by 0.28l. In third was the winner’s stablemate filly Kazaru (NZ) (Embellish {NZ}).

“He’s a nice colt, this horse. He dug deep today and went for runs. We were cursing Jacob for a while, thinking he might have been better to go around them, but he rode him very well. He’ll take a lot out of it, this colt. He’s nice horse going forward. I’m just rapt for the Brooks, who own him,” said Stokes.

“He’s come a long way in this prep. The team have done a fantastic job with him. He’ll go for a break now and I think he deserves to be aimed at some of the nice 3-year-old races in the spring. We bought him in New Zealand. David (Brook) picked out a few yearlings when we were over at Karaka, and he liked this horse, and we were able to bid on him and get him. He wasn’t an expensive horse either, so it’s going great.”

Matahga becomes stakes winner number seven for Waikato Stud’s Tivaci, a son of High Chaparral (Ire), and he’s now the winner of two of his three starts, as well as being second on debut. Matahga took his earnings over $144,000 and he was purchased by his trainer for NZ$80,000 from Waikato Stud’s New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale draft.

He is the first foal of Mohegan Star (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}) who is a half-sister to G1 Blue Diamond Stakes winner Little Brose who has retired to stand alongside his sire Per Incanto (USA) at Little Avondale Stud for the upcoming spring. Little Brose and Mohegan Star are out of American Listed winner Mohegan Sky (USA) (Straight Man {USA}) who is a half-sister to juvenile stakes winner Vous (USA) (Wild Rush {USA}).

Ole Kirk’s great start continues

With four stakes winners from his first crop of juveniles, Vinery Stud’s Ole Kirk continued his excellent start when 2-year-old colt Sonofkirk became his 14th winner at Caulfield on Saturday over 1000 metres. Trained by Anthony and Sam Freedman, Sonofkirk missed the start trailing the field by two lengths before flying home late under jockey Jye McNeil to win by 0.25l from Ciaron Maher-trained stablemates colt Oyster Lane (Blue Point {Ire}) and filly Life After Love (I Am Invincible).

“The fact he’s still doing so much wrong and winning gives us confidence going forward. We might take him home and do some barrier work,” said stable representative Billie Rodda. Sonofkirk also missed the start on debut when he ran third.

“Even though it’s winter, it was a good race. He’s a good quality colt,” McNeil said. “He was coming back from 1100 metres to 1000 metres, so I was kind of glad with (the early speed battle that) was going on.”

The win took his earnings over $96,000, and he was sold by Rheinwood Pastoral for $65,000 as a weanling at the Inglis Great Southern Sale. Fernrigg Farm purchased him and pinhooked as a 2-year-old at the Inglis Ready To Race Sale where his trainers purchased him for $85,000.

A half-brother to Let Me Sleep On It (Manhattan Rain), who won the Listed Redoute’s Choice Stakes at two, Sonofkirk becomes the fourth winner for Cheyenne Sue (Zizou) who has a Hitosu weanling filly and is in foal to In The Congo.

Cheyenne Sue is a half-sister to Group 1 winner Mazu (Maurice {Jpn}) who has earnings over $9 million, and Group 1 winner Headway (Charge Forward). This is also the family of this season’s Listed Hong Kong Classic Mile winner My Wish (Flying Artie) who ran second in the Hong Kong Derby.

Loving does it again for Godolphin at Newcastle

Last start winning 2-year-old gelding Loving (Bivouac) made a procession of the juvenile race at Newcastle, winning by a length for trainer James Cummings and jockey Mitchell Bell over the 1300 metres. In second was Brad Widdup-trained colt Escargoes (Capitalist) for owner Mulberry, who TTR AusNZ spoke to yesterday about their newly acquired The Everest slot, and in third was Kristen Buchanan-trained colt Tambeloa (Tagaloa) who was on debut.

One of five first crop winners for first season sire Bivouac, who has three stakes winners, the Godolphin homebred is out of Listed Gai Waterhouse Classic winner Maternal (Street Cry {Ire}) whose four foals to race are all winners. Maternal is a daughter of four-time Group 1 winner Divine Madonna (Hurricane Sky) who has also produced three-race winner Deity (Exceed And Excel), dam of this season’s G2 Todman Stakes-winning 2-year-old Tentyris (Street Boss {USA}). Group 1 winner Autumn Angel (The Autumn Sun) is also in this family.

Mardusa wins again for Maurice

Trainer Simon Miller’s 2-year-old gelding Mardusa (Maurice {Jpn}) made it two from two for this campaign with a strong 2l victory at Pinjarra on Saturday. He had been third on debut back in January at his only other start. “It was fantastic to see him get the job done today,” said stable representative Kelly Kinninmont.

“You have to be pretty sharp with him to keep him interested in what’s going on, he still does a lot wrong, still raw, and hopefully he’ll get out a bit further too. Simon’s got a few races planned for him over the carnival. He can go out and grow and fill out now.”

Purchased by his trainer for $140,000 from Greenfields Lodge’s Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale draft, Mardusa has earnings over $71,000 from his two wins to date. One of two winners from Maurice’s current crop of juveniles, Mardusa is the second winner for stakes-placed Medusa’s Miss (Henny Hughes {USA}) who is a half-sister to Group 1 winner Mummify (Jeune {GB}) and to the dams of stakes winners Ottoman (Exceed And Excel), Take Pride (Reward For Effort), and Isaurian (Exceed And Excel).

Boombox makes it two in a row with strong Final victory

The 2YO Championship Final at Ruakaka on Saturday was a repeat of the last time stablemates 2-year-old colt Boombox (NZ) (Spirit Of Boom) and Ashoka (NZ) (Hello Youmzain {Fr}) met, with Boombox again winning and Ashoka second. “They don’t seem to be making much ground from the back today, so we told both riders to try to jump and run in the first 100 metres,” stable representative Chris McNab said.

“Boombox kicked away impressively in the straight. He definitely has the makings of a very nice 3-year-old next season. The other horse was pretty green too and has plenty of improvement to come. He was just inclined to get on one rein. We’re looking forward to what’s in store for both of them.”

Boombox, who ran fifth on debut in February, has now strung two together in succession from his three starts and has earnings over NZ$58,000. Bred by Alan Jones and Edwina Morris, he was a NZ$50,000 purchase by Brewers Bloodstock from Berkley Stud at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale. He becomes the 10th juvenile winner for Spirit Of Boom this season, led by stakes winners Listed TAB 2YO Plate winner Shining Smile and Listed Cinderella Stakes winner Gin Spirit.

Boombox is the third winner for Viaductress (Sharkbite) who won five races including one in Sydney, and she has a weanling filly by Highly Recommended. Her 3-year-old gelding Aqueduct (Dubious) broke his maiden status at Ballarat on Friday. Viaductress is a daughter of Listed St Albans Stakes-placed Flawless Gem (Encosta De Lago).