Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
A shift in plans can sometimes deliver the ultimate reward - and for Albury-based Davison, Plan B proved better than anyone could have scripted on Day 1 of The Championships at Randwick.
When Plan B becomes the headline act
It doesn’t quite roll off the tongue - a Group 3 win as the “consolation prize” - but that was exactly the scenario for Davison after Autumn Break (The Autumn Sun) missed a start in the $1 million Country Championships Final.
Instead, the 3-year-old lined up in the G3 Carbine Club Stakes over 1600 metres and delivered Davison his first metropolitan winner - and at Group 3 level, and beating Champion trainer Chris Waller in a photo-finish.
“I was trying to get him into the Country Championships. But we were a bit unlucky in his runs previously and we were the first emergency. Being so far away, we had to be up there in Sydney in case someone scratched, so we had to travel,” Davison said.
“Looking at the schedule there was the Group 3 over the mile (Carbine Club) and I had no worries personally about him getting a mile, so it was a bit of a no-brainer to throw him in there.
“Looking at the schedule there was the Group 3 over the mile (Carbine Club) and I had no worries personally about him getting a mile, so it was a bit of a no-brainer to throw him in there.” - Kym Davison
“If anything happened with the country horses, I’d be scratching and going in the other race, and if not, we have a crack at that and find out where he sits among the 3-year-olds.”
That pragmatic approach paid off in full.
“When you think you might have to travel all the way to the city and not get a run, but to have a race that looked appropriate - and obviously whether we got the result or not it was a good play, it’s worked out fantastically.
“First city winner - a Group 3 is not a bad one to crack the ice with,” Davison said.
“It was a great day for us all. Quite a few of the owners attended and, as you can imagine, it turned into an even bigger night. It was a lot of fun.”
“It was a great day for us all. Quite a few of the owners attended and, as you can imagine, it turned into an even bigger night. It was a lot of fun.” - Kym Davison
Kym Davison with Autumn Break's connections | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
From Albury to Randwick
Operating out of Albury with a boutique team, Davison’s results are built on patience and careful management - a necessity given his numbers but something that aligns naturally for him.
“I have about 14 on the books and in work I usually have about eight or 10. It can fluctuate a bit as I like giving my horses time, and they generally have lots of small in-and-out preparations. I only have four that are racing at the moment.
“But I am really happy with my team at the moment. There are some really nice young horses that are well-bred.”
That philosophy was on show again with Autumn Break - a horse given time to develop and now reaping the rewards.
A familiar pedigree connection
Autumn Break was purchased for $40,000 from the Arrowfield Stud draft at the 2024 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, a decision influenced heavily by a familiar pedigree link.
Davison had already enjoyed success with the now stable stalwart Canny Hell (Hellbent), and the page revealed a close relationship between the two.
When looking through the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale Catalogue, the colt appealed as Autumn Break’s dam Isdaal (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) was a half-sister to Canny Hell’s dam Balady (Ire) Zamindar (USA).
Autumn Break as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
“Their dams are half-sisters and around the time the sale was on, Canny Hell won the Albury Guineas and he was a really good horse for us at the time. We purchased him for $50,000 and then picked up Autumn Break for a similar figure of $40,000 at the same sale a couple of years later.”
That proven family connection, combined with a willingness to back an emerging sire, sealed the deal.
“It was around the time that The Autumn Sun was just warming up. I always liked him as a racehorse, he was a really nice stallion and I was willing to take a punt on him.”
That punt that looks well-placed now with the Arrowfield Stud stallion currently in third place in the General Sires table, mainly due to his superstar unbeaten mare Autumn Glow and his star 3-year-old Autumn Boy who picked up the G1 Rosehill Guineas a couple of starts ago and ran a brave second behind the freakish Sheza Alibi (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}) in the G1 Doncaster Handicap last Saturday
The Autumn Sun has also sired the Group 1 classic winners Coco Sun, Autumn Angel and Vibrant Sun, while After Summer looks a great chance in this weekend’s G1 Australian Oaks after previously placing in the G1 Vinery Stud Stakes at her last start and placing in the G1 Victorian Oaks last spring.
The Autumn Sun | Standing at Arrowfield Stud
The pedigree also offered depth and stamina — something Davison actively seeks.
“There was plenty of stoutness in the page and I really liked that. I want a horse that can run a mile and potentially further, and if they can go over shorter, great, it just gives so much more scope.
Autumn Break’s dam Isdaal was a four-time winner from 2100 metres up to 2400 metres in Great Britain and is a half-sister to Junoob (GB) (Haafhd {GB}) who was a 12-time winner, including at stakes level six times in Australia and Great Britain from 1900 metres up to 2400 metres. The Champion Older Horse in Great Britain, Group 1-winning sire and miler Lahib (USA) also features in the pedigree.
“There is an abundance of horses that you have to compete with if you are just a straight sprinter. I want horses that profile as milers and that have that scope to go further and train on.
“I give them time and then we go from there.”
Isdaal | Image courtesy of Inglis
Mapping the future
Following the breakthrough win, Autumn Break will now head for a spell before a potential spring return, with races like The Kosciuszko already on the radar.
“The Kosciuszko - he’d go alright in that, I reckon.
“His first start was over 1200 and he should have won that Highway here - that was 1200 first-up - so we’ll try to push on to that if we can.
“He will want further, but 1200 metres, as he has so much scope, is a starting point. He could even turn into a Country Cups-type horse over 2000 metres, or the lower-end type stakes races in Melbourne or Sydney.”
“He (Autumn Break) could even turn into a Country Cups-type horse over 2000 metres, or the lower-end type stakes races in Melbourne or Sydney.” - Kym Davison
Importantly, the options are wide open.
“He really does have so many options and good races that we can dream about. Further afield there are races like the Big Dance or the Little Dance or the Barn Dance, all worth really good money. Good country horses can run for an unbelievable amount of money.
“I know everyone says it, but in six months I do think he will be a much better horse.”
Ownership built on mateship
The success is shared among a tight-knit ownership group, many of whom go back decades.
“I have a group of about eight mates that I played footy with that are in on the horse, so it’s been great connecting with them again.
“I also have two blokes, Michael Erdlejac and Geoff Harrison, that have been great friends and clients of mine over the last 10 or 15 years. Geoff is actually a former president of the Wagga Turf Club, but every time I buy at the sales they take a share - I pretty much tell them what they owe after.
“So I’m lucky, I’ve got a good group paying the bills.”
Geoff Harrison | Image courtesy of Murrumbidgee Turf Club
Davison keeps his approach simple when sourcing horses.
“I mainly buy from the sales and like having a good look at the pedigrees. The $50,000 kind of mark is about where I play and I have had some good success.
“As long as they pass my inspections and are within the price range, I like playing at that mark.”
Offers have come knocking
As expected, success at stakes level has quickly attracted attention from prospective buyers, but the ownership group is in no rush to cash in.
“It was such a thrill. The race was run to suit and, to be honest, I have got much more exposure with it being a Group race and it being my first city winner - it just adds to it.
“It does open up lots of options, but it was a real thrill for everyone involved.”
“We have had offers for the horse, even another one yesterday morning. The owners aren’t keen to sell. They have been in horses for a lot of years and are keen to enjoy a good one.
“We have had offers for the horse, even another one yesterday morning. The owners aren’t keen to sell. They have been in horses for a lot of years and are keen to enjoy a good one.” - Kym Davison
“It’s the gamble you take, but by the chance you separate everyone’s percentages it isn’t life-changing money. For example, six people together share 10% in one little group.
“If we sell, I have to then ask them for money to buy the next one and who knows if it will be any good - but it is the gamble we are taking at this stage.”
For now, the focus remains firmly on the racetrack.
“If it was a sole owner or people were half and half or even a third in the horse, it changes things and you would have to look at it.
“But I have been in the game for 25 years and a lot of my owners have been also, and they want to enjoy the fun of racing a good horse.
“I have been in the game for 25 years and a lot of my owners have been also, and they want to enjoy the fun of racing a good horse.” - Kym Davison
“Hopefully he comes back bigger and better — I’m sure he will. There is a lot to look forward to.”
