Saturday summary: Autumn Glow perfect in G1 Verry Elleegant triumph

Cover image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography

Perfect 10: Autumn Glow remains undefeated in G1 Verry Elleegant

The current queen of Australian racing Autumn Glow (The Autumn Sun) extended her unbeaten record to ten wins from ten starts with a flawless second-up performance in the G1 Verry Elleegant Stakes at Randwick on Saturday.

The Chris Waller-trained 4-year-old had to produce her absolute best, as stablemate Aeliana (Castelvecchio) ran a tremendous race to finish just a long neck away in second, with Sir Delius (Frankel {GB}) a further 3½ lengths back in third.

James McDonald delivered a masterful ride, positioning Autumn Glow just off the pace before unleashing her devastating turn of foot in the straight. Her determination to remain undefeated was clear as she clawed back a resolute Aeliana in the final stages.

Champion trainer Chris Waller praised the filly’s racing intelligence and versatility.

“She does everything right, simple as that,” Waller said.

“Doesn't matter where she draws, what the track conditions are, or distances, she puts herself in the race. A different type of horse to some of those good horses I've trained… but, yeah, she's up on the speed. She puts herself there, so that's the difference.”

Waller also acknowledged the amazing performance by Aeliana to push the champion mare so far.

“She's a pretty good horse, simple as that. I think that next start they'd head different ways… I'd love to try her at 2000m, but she's got to be dominant in her next win to give us that ultimate satisfaction that she can run the 2000 metres, otherwise it's probably the Doncaster.”

James McDonald highlighted Autumn Glow’s presence and finishing power.

“Her demeanour, her presence, she knows she's so good,” McDonald said.

“You can just see her strut around, even cantering to the start looking around like ‘you guys have got none’. She's pretty good and she moves like a dream.”

“Even though the ground wasn’t ideal, she was always going to win. Two very good mares obviously, but that’s just the beauty about Glow, like she's 10 from 10 and Chris has been there and done it all before. She can't be in better hands. I think she should run Queen Elizabeth. She'll win it.”

Autumn Glow’s win adds to an already stellar record, taking her Group 1 tally to two, after taking out in the 2025 G1 Epsom (1600 metres) last year, and pushing her career earnings past $7.5 million.

Sales info: Autumn Glow was bred by Newhaven Park and sold as a weanling for $600,000 to Silverdale Farm and Shrone Bloodstock, before topping the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale at $1.8 million, purchased by Arrowfield Pastoral and Hermitage Thoroughbreds.

Pedigree info: One of two individual Group 1 winners from three to race out of South African champion sprinter and multiple G1 winner Via Africa (Var {USA}), Autumn Glow is a three-quarter sister to G1 Golden Rose winner In The Congo. By Arrowfield Stud’s The Autumn Sun, she is one of five individual G1 winners for the stallion. Her pedigree cross is being repeated this year at the Inglis Easter Sale, with a filly (Lot 209) consigned by Arrowfield out of a granddaughter of Var (USA).

Tempted refuses to be denied in G1 Surround Stakes

The G1 Surround Stakes at Randwick produced a stirring battle in the straight, with Tempted (Street Boss {USA}) going head and head with Savvy Hallie (Hellbent) before the Godolphin filly drove her head in front late to score a deserved first Group 1 victory.

Champion jockey Nash Rawiller almost caused another Randwick boilover, sending Savvy Hallie straight to the front, just as she had at her previous start in the G2 Light Fingers Stakes where she defeated odds-on favourite Apocalyptic (Extreme Choice). But it was Tempted who would not be denied, digging deep in the final furlong to secure her maiden Group 1 triumph, with Savvy Hallie fighting tooth and nail to finish a long-head away in second, while Ole Dancer (Ole Kirk) finished a further 1¾ lengths away in third.

The victory marked a breakthrough at the elite level for the star filly, who had previously finished third in the G1 Golden Slipper, third in the G1 Golden Rose, and second in the G1 Everest behind champion sprinter Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}).

Trainer Ciaron Maher was thrilled and relieved with her performance.

“Quality, you know, she's got so much of it. I'm just thrilled to be able to train for Godolphin, her record speaks for itself, so to be able to tick off a Group 1 for her is very, very special,” Maher said.

“I can't thank my team enough, she spends most of her time down at Bong Bong. She likes the relaxing surrounds, Jo (Gerard-Dubord, assistant trainer) and the team have done a super job with her.

“Group Ones are everything for these fillies, especially for a team like Godolphin and their Broodmare band. I’m absolutely thrilled.”

Maher placed the filly’s performance in perspective alongside his other top fillies.

“Well, if you look at her form and Bella Nipotina's form at the same time, you'd say she's a lot better. But Bella's longevity, strength, and toughness, she's definitely right up there.

“She (Tempted) runs second to the best sprinter in the world as a 3-year-old, so you think with furnishing, she's only going to get better. Andy Makiv and Jason Walsh and the whole Godolphin team, they manage their horses so well. They're a pleasure to train for, and I'm just thrilled.”

Winning jockey Chad Schofield praised the filly’s class and determination.

“The second filly was tremendously brave,” Schofield said.

“Just the way I canted up to her, but then Savvy Hallie, she found a lot more. Very good run by two good fillies, but I think we were the better one on the day.”

Sales info: Tempted is a homebred for Godolphin.

Pedigree info: Tempted is the second stakes winner for G2 Magic Night Stakes victress Calliope (Exceed And Excel), alongside multiple Group winner Kallos (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}). Descended from G1 VRC Oaks winner Bulla Borghese (Belong To Me {USA}), her close family include fellow Godolphin stakes winners Bacchanalia (Exceed And Excel), Aquitaine (Exceed And Excel), and Zethus (Exceed And Excel).

Calliope delivered an Anamoe filly in 2025, and subsequently returned to the nine-time Group 1 winner.

Group 1 double for Godolphin as Observer wins Australian Guineas

Observer (Ghaiyyath {Ire}) stamped himself as one of Australia’s top 3-year-olds with a determined win in the G1 Australian Guineas at Flemington on Saturday.

The victory capped a remarkable day for Godolphin and trainer Ciaron Maher, who also celebrated stablemate Tempted’s win in the G1 Surround Stakes at Randwick just moments earlier, completing an interstate Group 1 double.

The colt, who had been unlucky in last year’s Caulfield Guineas, settled just off the early pace before a clear run opened along the inside in the straight. Jockey Ethan Brown capitalised on the opportunity, driving Observer through the gap. He was forced to hold off a fierce challenge from Sixties (Flying Artie) inside the final 100 metres before fending off the late burst by Planet Red (Admire Mars {Jpn}), who finished strongly down the outside.

Observer crossed the line a long neck ahead of Planet Red, with Sixties finishing narrowly back in third.

It was the colt’s fifth win from nine starts, taking his career earnings past $2.5 million, and marked Ghaiyyath’s second Australian Group 1 success following Observer’s Victoria Derby triumph last spring.

Maher praised Observer’s versatility and composure, likening his racing style to that of Arrowfield stallion Hitotsu, who was loaded with ability but was retired from racing prematurely due to a leg infection.

“He’s probably the closest thing we’ve likened to Hitotsu in terms of his racing style. He’s probably not as dynamic, but his ability to win a Derby and come back to claim a Group 1 mile Guineas is rare. You never often see it. It’s a credit to the horse, and to Godolphin as an organisation,” Maher said.

Brown echoed the trainer’s praise, highlighting the colt’s exceptional ability to find the line.

“The main thing with him is getting him to relax and settle. From there on in, we stuck to the fence and he did the rest. He’s a superstar,” he said.

Maher and the Godolphin team now have a wealth of options for Observer’s autumn campaign. The colt can be aimed at both age-restricted features and open-weight contests against older horses, including the Australian Cup, Rosehill Guineas, or the Doncaster Mile.

Sales info: Observer is a homebred by Godolphin.

Pedigree info: Observer is out of the Lonhro mare Smooth, making him a half-brother to Group 3 winner Sandpaper (Snitzel). Smooth is impeccably bred, being a sister to Coolmore’s Pierro and the dam of Estriella (I Am Invincible), who sold for $2.8 million at the Inglis Chairman’s Sale.

Smooth has a 2-year-old colt by Anamoe and a colt on the ground by G1 Newmarket Handicap winner Cylinder. She visited champion stallion Too Darn Hot (GB) in the spring.

Williams masterclass delivers Verona Rose Guy Walter Stakes

A perfectly executed ride from Craig Williams provided Verona Rose (Castelvecchio) the platform to power away to her second stakes success in the G2 Guy Walter Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on Saturday.

Making the trip north for his Group 1 engagement aboard Sir Delius (Frankel {GB}) in the G1 Verry Elleegant Stakes, Williams made the trip more than worthwhile and was positive from the outset. Rather than conceding ground from the gate, as has been her pattern, he rode with intent, pressing forward to secure the one-out, one-back position.

Portelli revealed post-race the ride unfolded exactly as forecast.

“That's exactly what Craig Williams said he was going to do," Portelli said.

“He said, 'I'll be box seating and she'll be too strong.' Exactly where he wanted to be, he got to, he made sure she got to that spot. I was just saying, she'd come across heels and I thought, 'Okay, she's going to let rip now., but she took forever to actually really let down this time. I said, 'Okay, you pushed your way out, do something.' The leader was kicking pretty strongly. She did a great job.”

Travelling sweetly throughout, Verona Rose peeled out upon straightening and, after taking a few strides to fully balance, produced a telling turn of foot. She swept past race favourite Manaal (Tassort) inside the final furlong to score by three-quarters of a length, with Arctic Glamour (Frosted {USA}) a further head away in third.

Williams felt he had the mare in the perfect spot to take advantage but was pleasently surprised by her turn of foot late.

“She came out, she lengthened, and I thought, ‘well, she's still going really well and lengthening,’ but the last little bit she really put in an acceleration and put it away.”

The victory was an emotional one for Portelli in a race named for the late Guy Walter.

“I just got a bit emotional a minute ago, I saw Wendy Walter over there. I said, 'Don't look at me.' I'm going to start crying because, you know, I'm a sensitive old guy. Guy (Walter) was a great mate to us all at Warwick Farm and he’s sorely missed.”

Verona Rose, who previously claimed the G3 Kembla Grange Classic at just her third start, continues to build an imposing black-type résumé and looks set for bigger targets through the Autumn.

Portelli indicated that the Group 1 targets were now well and truly in sight.

“I think the Coolmore, down in the weights, she should be very competitive," he said.

“That's always been the plan. I thought physically she had improved this preparation, and here she is. She is a daughter of a good stallion in Castelvecchio, we bought her for $40,000 from Arrowfield at the Classic Sale. We were aiming for an Oaks when I first bought her, we thought she has got a pedigree that should run two miles but she's brilliant.”

Sales info: Purchased for a modest $40,000 at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale from Arrowfield Stud by trainer Gary Portelli, Verona Rose has been a brilliant investment for her large ownership group, claiming five wins from 13 starts and earning over $700,000.

Pedigree info: Bred and sold by Arrowfield, Verona Rose is the standout of two winners from three to race out of the Aga Khan-bred Minamya (Fr) (Makfi {GB}). Minamya is a winning half-sister to staying stakes-winner Mila (Cape Cross {Ire}), from Group 3-winning stayer Minatlya (Linamix {Fr}), and the family of triple Australian Group 1-winning import Manighar (Fr). She has a yearling colt by Hitotsu and foaled this spring a colt by Castelvecchio, a full brother to Verona Rose. Unfortunately Minamya passed away late last year.

King Of Roseau ready to take next step after Liverpool City Cup victory

King Of Roseau (Capitalist) produced a stunning first-up performance to claim the G3 Liverpool City Cup (1300 metres) at Randwick, demonstrating his trademark turn of foot and leaving connections excited for the future.

Tom Sherry guided the 4-year-old gelding to a perfectly timed finish, producing a withering sprint from back in the field to score by 1¼ lengths over Enriched (I Am Invincible), with Axius (Justify {USA}) a half-head away in third.

“We had the right run in the race today. He quickened extremely well and I was a bit worried because I hit the front a long way out. But credit to the horse, and Peter (Snowden) and the team, the horse is going really well,” Sherry said.

Stable representative Aaron Lau praised King Of Roseau’s progress.

“He’s been a revelation the last couple of preparations. When he's on song, he’s got a lethal turn-of-foot and Tom has great confidence in him. Especially today, with so much speed in the race, it was nice to see that turn-of-foot,” Lau said.

Looking ahead, King Of Roseau has plenty of upside, with connections optimistic he can continue his progression and measure during the Autumn carnival.

“He’s going really well, and the races only get tougher from here, but if we set him for the right targets, he’ll certainly be competitive,” Lau said.

King Of Roseau has now won six of his 23 starts, including the LR Magic Millions Cup (1400m) and the G3 Aurie’s Star Stakes (1200 metres) earning more than $2.1 million in prizemoney.

Sales info: King Of Roseau was purchased for $95,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale from Ashleigh Thoroughbreds.

Pedigree info: By Golden Slipper winner Capitalist, King Of Roseau is the second and final foal of Dominica, a Choisir daughter of Group 1 winner Danni Martine (Danzero).