Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Autumn Glow hunts the George Ryder
The unbeaten superstar Autumn Glow (The Autumn Sun) has taken her career record to ten in a row and she looks a great chance to make it eleven in the Group 1 George Ryder Stakes on Saturday.
She looks very hard to beat and trainer Chris Waller is adamant the glamour mare is poised for a peak performance on Saturday.
Autumn Glow | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
“I am excited about the George Ryder for her, she is going to be at her peak for the first time this preparation so 1500m, three weeks between runs is the perfect set up for her,” Waller told racenet.com.
After the George Ryder Stakes, there will be discussions between connections, in terms of working out what is the next target for the mare.
“We need to have a good chat to James (McDonald) and the owners (after the Ryder) about whether she goes to the Doncaster Mile, the Queen Elizabeth Stakes or the Queen Of The Turf Stakes” Waller said.
“The first two options would be our preferences, it’s just a matter of whether we choose a Doncaster or a Queen Elizabeth.”
Chris Waller | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
An interesting sub-plot is James McDonald needing one more Group 1 victory to equal Damien Oliver’s record of 129 wins at the elite level, and two more to make it his own.
“Group 1 races are hard to come by, they are hard to win, they are never easy, you need everything to fall into place,” McDonald told racingandsports.
“It is what it is, I'm in a very privileged position where I can ride the best racehorses in the land, arguably some of the best in the world.
“It is what it is, I'm in a very privileged position where I can ride the best racehorses in the land, arguably some of the best in the world.” - James McDonald
“I'm out to give Autumn Glow, Aeliana, Autumn Boy, Fireball and Generosity their best possible chance, as well as my rides in the undercard. If I can execute well then I'm sure we can capitalise and I have no doubt I have the horses to do it, they have been beautifully prepared and ready to go.”
Autumn Glow does look incredibly hard to beat, but if there is to be an upset, it could come from her stablemate Lady Shenandoah (Snitzel) who is due a winning turn, or another stablemate Gringotts (NZ) (per Incanto {USA}) who was solid resuming and is the highest rated horse in the race outside of the unbeaten mare.
Chayan has a sense of timing ahead of the Slipper
This year’s Golden Slipper shapes as an open contest, where timing could prove crucial - and Chayan (I Am Invincible) looks to have that sense of timing about her.
The filly has progressed well through her preparation, from finishing second on debut behind Streisand (Magnus) in the G2 Blue Diamond Prelude (fillies), to a strong effort in the G1 Blue Diamond Stakes, before breaking through with a dominant win in the Group 2 Reisling Stakes.
Chayan | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
“I quite like that she slipped under the radar, she’s not under the radar now because the figures were good out of her last start,” co-trainer Annabel Archibald told racingnsw.
“She was unwanted in the market on debut in the Prelude and she endured a bit of a wide run but it was a good run against Streisand who’d already had a run.
“She drew the car park in the Blue Diamond and never got a rest. She showed a lot of grit and determination and that’s what she seems to have in spades. She’s coming here off the back of a really dominant win.”
Archibald said she couldn’t be happier with the filly heading into Saturday.
Annabel Archibald | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
“I couldn’t be any happier with (Chayan). We thought she’d win the Reisling and obviously did and she hasn’t missed a beat yet. She’s fourth-up which I think is a good recipe.
“She’s very fit, she’s an uncomplicated and straightforward filly and she’s had a very smooth preparation which is what you want heading into this grand final.”
“She’s (Chayan) very fit, she’s an uncomplicated and straightforward filly and she’s had a very smooth preparation which is what you want heading into this grand final.” - Annabel Archibald
With James McDonald committed to the Waller stable, Craig Williams takes the ride.
“It’s great to have Craig Williams on, obviously J-Mac is the goat at the moment, but outside of that Craig’s won the most Group 1s this season and he was keen to ride,” she said.
“He’s a good tactician and it’s a race of luck a lot of the time and I wouldn’t swap her for anything in the field.”
“He’s (James McDonald) a good tactician and it’s a race of luck a lot of the time and I wouldn’t swap her for anything in the field.” - Annabek Archibald
There is an abundance of chances in this year’s Golden Slipper, with Warwoven (Sword Of State) and Paradoxium (Extreme Choice) for Bjorn Baker, Stretan Ruler (Wild Ruler) is ticking over nicely and looks a good chance, and Guest House (Home Affairs) is capable of causing an upset if he gets the right run and settles well.
Observer eyes a unique Group 1 double in the Rosehill Guineas
The Ciaron Maher-trained Observer (Ghaiyyath {Ire}) finished last campaign with victory in the Group 1 Victorian Derby and has returned in excellent order this preparation.
First-up he won the G2 Autumn Stakes over 1400 metres, before stepping up to take out the Group 1 Australian Guineas over the mile at Flemington, and now heads to Rosehill chasing the Group 1 Rosehill Guineas over 2000 metres.
Victory would see him become a Group 1-winning 3-year-old at 1600m, 2000m and 2500m, and also the first Australian Guineas winner since the race begun in 1986 to claim the Rosehill Guineas.
Observer | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“He’s a 3-year-old in very good form,” Maher said on Sky Sports Radio.
“You’d say when he got to 2000m last prep that was when he really came into his own.”
Observer meets Autumn Boy (The Autumn Sun) again after their clash in the G1 Caulfield Guineas last spring, where he was unlucky in running.
“They’ve drawn alongside each other, Autumn Boy and Observer, and they’ll work out tactics. It looks like it’s going to be a very good race and hopefully he comes out on top.”
Autumn Boy | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Maher also highlighted the colt’s tactical versatility.
“He sat in the driver’s seat last start, he can sit wherever he wants really depending on the pace of the race.
“He’s worked plenty of times on (rain affected ground) and seems fine, he’s only ever raced on a good track, so I don’t think it will worry him.”
Maher did not think the Sydney right-handed direction would pose any issues.
Ciaron Maher | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“He’s done a couple of pieces of work since coming back to Sydney and he’s like a duck to water. He’s switched legs when he’s needed to and worked quite nicely.
“He’s a horse with a lot of talent, he’s improving all the time. I’d say with a break he’s going to come back a much stronger horse but he’s still very much maturing.”
“He’s (Observer) a horse with a lot of talent, he’s improving all the time. I’d say with a break he’s going to come back a much stronger horse but he’s still very much maturing.” - Ciaron Maher
On paper it very much looks a two horse race between the two Group 1-winning colts Observer and Autumn Boy, but if there is to be a blow-out it could come from the maidener Federalist (I Am Invincible), backing up from a fast-finishing second behind Sixties (Flying Artie) last weekend in the Group 2 Phar Lap Stakes, the step-up to 2000 metres looks ideal.
Sir Delius ready to rise in 'The Ranvet'
The classy Sir Delius (GB) (Frankel {GB}) hunts his third Group 1 victory in the Ranvet Stakes over 2000 metres in what looks a small but select field.
He returns second-up after a strong third in the Group 1 Verry Elleegant Stakes behind Autumn Glow (The Autumn Sun) and Aeliana (Castelvecchio), and now steps to a more suitable trip.
Co-trainer Adrian Bott is pleased with where the horse sits heading into Saturday.
Sir Delius (GB) | Image courtesy of Trackside Photography
“Three weeks, it has been that real sweet spot to get him to where we need him to be stepping out to 2000,” Bott told racingandsports.
“He is out to his right trip now, and he has shown the necessary improvement. I'm ready to see him bounce back.”
Bott knows the challenge that awaits, particularly with Aeliana’s consistency this campaign.
“The mare was very sharp last start, and she has been excellent this campaign.
“We're going to need to recapture that spring form to be getting to that point of beating her, but I do feel he's on his way there.”
“We're going to need to recapture that spring form to be getting to that point of beating her, but I do feel he's (Sir Delius) on his way there.” - Adrian Bott
It does look a two-horse race on paper, but the best blow-out chance outside those two may be Lindermann (Lonhro) who could roll along in front and give them something to chase down.
Skyhook resumes with hopefully bigger targets ahead
The Listed Darby Munro Stakes, a race won by Autumn Glow (The Autumn Sun) last year, is the first-up target for the quality 3-year-old colt Skyhook (Written Tycoon).
It shapes as a confidence booster and a stepping stone towards bigger targets deeper into the autumn and into the winter.
Co-trainer Sterling Alexiou is hoping the run can springboard Skyhook into the Group 2 Arrowfield Sprint later in the carnival and potentially a Brisbane campaign.
Skyhook | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“We’ve been happy with his trials, a bit of rain around won’t worry us,” Alexiou told racingnsw.
“He’s going as well as he can be going first-up into a race like that.
“The Arrowfield isn’t a Group 1 but it’s a well credentialed race worth a bit of money and would look good on his CV if we can get to the stage where we can knock over a big one with him.
“We feel he is that class of galloper and if we can get through these first two runs with him, and he’s in A1 form, we’ll push forward to one of those weight-for-age Group 1s in Queensland.”
Alexiou noted the colt may concede some fitness to rivals but expects a strong showing.
Sterling Alexiou| Image courtesy of RA Racing
“This looked an ideal kick off point for him three weeks into the Arrowfield.
“He had a quiet first trial and he can be an average trialler at times. We were out there to get a bit of a feel for him (in the second trial) and to make sure he wasn’t far away from the mark first-up fitness wise.
“He should be very hard to beat if we get a bit of luck with still a little bit of improvement to come. The only thing is there’s a few there who might catch us on the hop fitness wise who have a good solid run under their belt.”
It looks a very even race, with Space Rider (Zoustar) for the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr stable a good hope, Hidden Motive (Capitalist) was brave running third behind Beadman (Snitzel) last start, and they both look good chances, and the Ciaron Maher-trained State Visit (Wootton Bassett {GB}) could be the rough blow-out chance.
