From maiden to Group 1 winner in the space of six weeks, the rising young star The Autumn Sun kept his unbeaten record intact in Saturday's $600,000 Group 1 JJ Atkins Plate (1600m) at Doomben.
Ridden by Kerrin McEvoy, the handsome Redoute's Choice colt defeated his Chris Waller-trained stablemate Zousain by a neck with Fundamentalist (Not A Single Doubt) a length and a quarter back in third. (photo Steve Hart)
Waller had previously won the JJ Atkins with Pressday (2010) and Press Statement (2015), with Press Statement going onto win the Caulfield Guineas as a spring three-year-old and The Autumn Sun is expected to follow a similar path.
"It was only his third start and to see him dig so deep showed just how smart he is," Waller told AAP.
"It's a Group One race with so much at stake and only certain horses can take that step so quickly and excel.
"The Autumn Sun will be a Caulfield Guineas horse and I'd say Zousain will be kept to the shorter races like the Golden Rose and Coolmore.
"This carnival is great for horses coming through and it's about gradually getting up to this Group One level and then they seem to springboard off it and catch up to other horses in the spring with confidence."
Bred by Arrowfield, the Autumn Sun was a $700,000 Inglis Easter purchase from the Arrowfield draft for Hermitage Thoroughbreds/ Waller Racing.
From a famed Aga Khan family, The Autumn Sun is the second foal of the unraced Galileo mare Azmiyna (IRE), who is a half-sister to Azamour (Night Shift).
Honoured as the Champion Older Horse in Europe, England & Ireland in 2005, Azamour's 6 wins included the Group 1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes and Group 1 Irish Champion Stakes, Group 1 St James's Palace Stakes and Group 1 Prince of Wales's Stakes.
Chris Waller and bloodstock agent Guy Mulcaster also secured the current yearling from Azmiyna, a filly by Snitzel for $1.3 million at this year's Inglis Easter.
Azmiyna has a weanling colt by Not a Single Doubt and was covered last spring by Snitzel.
The Autumn Sun becomes the 158th stakes-winner and 33rd individual Group 1 winner for the Champion Sire, Redoute's Choice (pictured) who will stand his 19th season at Arrowfield Stud this spring at a fee of $137,500.
Mark Smith - Breednet
Jaguar Land Rover J.J. Atkins Gr1 1600m
Anders An easy winner as an early three year old in the Listed Rosebud, followed by another dominant win at
Better Than Ready A striking athletic almost black stallion with exceptional ability- 16 starts, 8 wins, 4 stakes wins, Group 1
BRUTAL Won the time-honoured Group 1 Doncaster Handicap in fewer starts than any horse in history. "Brutal
CAPITALIST GOLDEN SLIPPER-WINNING CHAMPION 2YO . A stunning son of hot sire Written Tycoon. Stallion Name: Capitalist Phone +61 (0)2
Castelvecchio Record-breaking Champagne 2YO, Classic 3YO & Cox Plate runner-up - Castelvecchio's action-packed elite career answered every question. Add his Danehill-free
Cosmic Force Fast enough to win the Group 2 WFA Everest lead-up defeating Classique Legend, Osborne Bulls, Graff, etc.
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Fierce Impact (JPN) Champion miler and outstanding son of sire phenomenon Deep ImpactFierce Impact brings proven elite level performance and
FLYING ARTIE EXCEPTIONAL JUVENILE, WORLD CHAMPION 3YO SPRINTER An Exceptional Juvenile - won the G3 Blue Diamond Prelude defeating Star
Foxwedge An extremely talented, Group 1-winning son of Champion Sire Fastnet Rock, Foxwedge, the Champion Second Season Sire of his
Graff Graff was an undefeated 2YO, winning his first two starts before winning the time honoured Group 3 San Domenico
Nicconi Dual Gr 1 winner of the Lightning Stakes (Flemington) & The Galaxy (Randwick) and Co-Champion Australian 3yo Sprinter and
North Pacific An $800,000 yearling An outcross to Danehill "He was quite simply one of the best looking yearlings I’ve
PARIAH One of the highest rated two-year-olds of his generation, returning with Group brilliance over 1100m, the beautiful son
Prince Fawaz Prince Fawaz is out of the twice-winning mare Lady Paget (Testa Rossa), who herself is out of the
Rich Enuff As Written Tycoon’s highest rated son at stud achieving a TFR of 125, and also his fastest, Rich
Russian Camelot Russian Camelot is by Camelot (GB), a young sire who has produced seven G1 winners to-date. Russian Camelot’s
RUSSIAN REVOLUTION SNITZEL’S FASTEST SON AT STUD "He's absolutely one of the quickest horses we have ever trained."
SHOWTIME The extravagantly good-looking, super-competitive son of Champion sire Snitzel, Group 2 winner at 1400m & 1600m, twice Group 1-placed
Snitzel A Major Sire in the Making - Snitzel's 2013/14 season has taken off impressively, with talented son Malavio breaking through
Sooboog There is no question, Australian racing revolves around precocious speed and commercial breeders wishing to tap into the market
Star Witness Multiple Gr 1 performer internationally; 2nd King’s Stand Gr 1, 3rd Golden Jubilee Gr 1 Stallion
The Autumn Sun The spectacular star of his generation, the best colt by supersire Redoute's Choice, the 5-time Group 1
Time To Reign Undefeated Spring 2yo – defeated Bivouac on debut in Kirkham Plate Winner of two races before Christmas and
Tosen Stardom The only Australian dual G1 winning son of the best stallion in the world, Deep ImpactPhenomenal opportunity
WINNING RUPERT Stallion Name: Winning Rupert Phone +61 (0)2 6543 8395 ARSN No Mobile +61
Zoustar Now shuttling between Widden Stud and Tweenhills (UK) In a brief 8 start career to date Zoustar has
