MOSTYN COPPER

RANDWICK GUINEAS

(GROUP 1)

SPOTTING the leaders 10 lengths on straightening up, The Autumn Sun produced a sustained burst of speed in running down seven rivals to land Saturday’s Randwick Guineas with emphatic authority. “That was an international standard win and he wouldn’t be out of place anywhere in the world,” said former Godolphin chief executive John Ferguson who was trackside.

By Redoute’s Choice out of the Irish-bred Galileo mare Azmiyna, The Autumn Sun, trained by Chris Waller, won by a half-head from the Not A Single Doubt filly Fundamentalist.

“I never thought I would have a Group 1 won like that and have it taken away from me like that,” said David Hayes, trainer of Fundamentalist. “She just ran into a champion colt, one of the best performances by a three-year-old I have seen.”

Third was the So You Think filly Nakeeta Jane.

The conundrum now is where next for The Autumn Sun, with Arrowfield boss John Messara beating the retirement drums for the colt, an effect that has been to Winx’s winning advantage over the past four years with star colts whisked away to lucrative breeding deals.

“The exciting part about this horse is he’s not mature yet,” said Waller. “He’s Australia’s next star. You’re seeing it, but he is a very, very good horse.”