Rosehill

Sky Racing Rosehill Guineas (Group 1)

ABOARD the Chris Waller-trained Autumn Boy, James McDonald came from mid-field in an eight-horse field to land a second Group 1 win for The Autumn Sun colt in the 2,000 metre Rosehill Guineas on Golden Slipper Day.

More significantly, the win, 34-year-old McDonald’s second Group 1 win of the day, brought up his 130th career Group 1, breaking the previous Australian record held by Damien Oliver.

“It’s lovely, but it’s a testament to the horses that I ride because they are phenomenal,” reflected McDonald. “There’s no two ways about it, that I do ride the best horses and most favourites and I’m blessed to have that opportunity. To get to a mark like this, it’s special. Especially with how I look up to Damien Oliver.

Humbled

“When I was growing up as a 10-year-old kid, he was riding Melbourne Cup winners. One that comes to mind is Media Puzzle when he went through so much adversity and still had the vivacity to come out on top.

“He’s a phenomenal rider. I’m just humbled by the support. To be honest, I flicked social media off this week and just focused on my rides.”

Having his eighth start, Autumn Boy has now won four and placed three times, with this his first test beyond 1,600 metres. Saturday’s comfortable two-length win saw the Ritchies Racing-owned colt defeat the Godolphin colts, Green Spaces by Street Boss and the race favourite Observer by Ghaiyyath.

“We ticked the box for 2,000 metres. His dad won it. He’s won it. And yeah, we’ll pick out some nice races in the spring for him,” said Chris Waller.

The Agency George Ryder Stakes (Group 1)

SUPERSTAR filly Autumn Glow won her 11th consecutive race, taking out the George Ryder Stakes over 1,500 metres at Rosehill, completing a Group 1 treble in consecutive races for trainer Chris Waller and jockey James McDonald.

Kept out of the firing line, The Autumn Sun filly coasted into the race round the bend before cruising away for a three-length victory. Sent out a $1.25 favourite, with the next best at $14, Autumn Glow defeated the Per Incanto gelding Gringotts as the Street Boss gelding Pericles filled third.

“She’s important,” said McDonald after the race. “Let’s not beat around the bush, she’s 11 from 11. People are here to come out and see her, and she’s got such an amazing fanfare now – it’s growing. It’s incredible. The feeling you get off these horses and it’s special to witness people pin their eyeballs on her. I thought Anamoe was a big deal. This horse has taken it to a new level.”

The sale topping A$1.8 million Inglis Easter yearling who was purchased for $600,000 as a 2022 Magic Millions weanling, has now accrued $8.16 million in earnings. Chris Waller, when asked if she could be considered a Champion, said, “Yeah, in my eyes she is. I’m qualified to know what one’s like. She’s a very talented horse. Obviously, longevity is the key now. If she keeps doing that, she’ll be a champion for sure.”

Aeliana back to best in Ranvet

Ranvet Stakes (Group 1)

UNLIKE in her previous two starts this preparation, Aeliana did not have to contend with her stablemate Autumn Glow.

Stretched out to the 2,000 metres of the Group 1 Ranvet Stakes at Rosehill, the Castelvecchio four-year-old filly was sent out a $1.60 favourite in a field of five. Hard ridden around the final bend as four lengths covered the field, Aeliana’s stablemate Lindermann was making a good fist of the running.

Still in front with 50 metres to go, Aeliana just got the better of the Lonhro gelding to win by a head as the Frankel horse Sir Delius closed late, a length off the winner.

“She’s just incredible,” said McDonald.

“Her tenacity to find the line was just superb. She’s been building to something like that and I’ve got to give credit to the second horse because they made us work. I was thinking, this is not how the script’s supposed to go.”

Chances are now both Aeliana and her stablemate Autumn Glow will clash again in the A$5 million Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes over 2,000 metres during the Championships on April 11th.

Guest House lands the gold

Golden Slipper Stakes (Group 1)

GUEST House by Coolmore’s first season sire Home Affairs, weaved through traffic to take out a thrilling Golden Slipper Stakes over 1,200 metres at Rosehill.

In the rear two-thirds of the 16-horse field in Australia’s richest juvenile race, jockey Zac Lloyd had to angle down and inside of runners before getting the vital split 150 metres out.

With a head of steam, the Home Affairs colt, a Magic Millions $270,000 yearling, darted clear to win by just over a length. Second was the Magnus filly Streisand who kept the All Too Hard gelding Music Time to third.

Trained by Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr, the colt was a winner on debut and placed twice more, including third to Streisand in the Blue Diamond Stakes, before Saturday’s Group 1 triumph.

Pinnacle

“It’s incredible. It’s a Golden Slipper. It’s the pinnacle of two-year-old racing, and he has taken a bit of work. Pre-Christmas, he was a bit of a lad. He went down to Melbourne, and the Melbourne staff did a terrific job with him.

“He came up here in tip-top shape off what was an unlucky run,” said assistant trainer Ben Elam who runs Price and Kent’s Sydney barn. “Since he’s been up here, he has just been an absolute gentleman.”

Kia Ora Galaxy (Group 1)

LAST year’s Golden Slipper Stakes winner, the Snitzel filly Marhoona returned to Rosehill to salute again, this time in the Group 1 Galaxy over 1,100 metres.

Trained by Michael Freedman and ridden by Kerin McEvoy, Marhoona doggedly got her nose in front as a line of nine flashed across the line within a length of each other as remarkably Marhoona became the first Golden Slipper winner since She Will Reign in the 2017 Moir Stakes to win a Group 1 race as an older horse.

“I don’t think I’ve had a horse that’s just got as much tenacity as she does,” said Freedman of the Emirates Park bred. “She sort of looked out on her feet at the 100m there and she just refused to lay down, a bit like the Slipper. What a filly.” Marhoona defeated the Savabeel gelding Jedibeel with Mazu a nose third.

Jigsaw fits Reid

Caulfield

William Reid Stakes (Group 1)

WHILE Sydney was revelling in Golden Slipper glitz, Caulfield played host to the Group 1 William Reid Stakes over 1,200 metres.

Dominating the market was the Ciaron Maher-trained Jimmysstar, fresh off a November Caulfield Group 1 in the CF Orr Stakes, but speculators had misread the form of the Cindy Alderson-trained Jigsaw.

The seven-year-old Manhattan Rain gelding came into the race unbeaten in five starts since late October, including a trip to Ellerslie in New Zealand to win the Group 1 Railway.

Sent out as a $5.50 second favourite, Jigsaw jumped to the lead in the 11-horse field and was never headed. Showing real grit, he dug deep with apprentice Logan Bates to hold out a trio of fast finishing horses and win by a length.

Second was the Harry Angel horse Angel Capital who was third in the Newmarket Handicap with the Extreme Choice colt Devil Night third.

Unbelievable

“It’s getting more and more unbelievable as we go along,” said Cindy Alderson. “I keep thinking it’s going to stop sooner or later. He’s not giving me any indications it’s going to stop. He’s just run exactly the same time as he ran last week, so he answered the back-up.

“It’s amazing for a small stable like ours to have the opportunity to have a horse like this at this stage of my career.”

On board for all of Jigsaw’s current run of gilt-edged form has been Logan Bates. “He relaxed beautifully, he was on the ball, and it was the query, backing him up, he’s never ever done it and he’s normally a horse better kept fresh, a month in between runs, and it’s just a credit to Cindy and her team. They do a fantastic job.”