Although Autumn Boy commenced the week in Melbourne, trainer Chris Waller anticipates the multiple Group 1 victor will be in Sydney by Saturday for the running of the Epsom Handicap at Randwick.
The esteemed trainer confirmed over the weekend that the historic mile event, a Group 1 worth $1.5 million, remained the target for the winner of the Caulfield Guineas and Rosehill Guineas.
Autumn Boy’s initial two outings this campaign, an eighth in the Memsie Stakes and a second in the Makybe Diva Stakes, have both been in Melbourne. He will undertake his final gallop there before travelling north following Tuesday morning’s barrier draw.
Should the colt perform exceptionally poorly in his upcoming run, Waller might reconsider his strategy for the son of The Autumn Sun, with champion jockey James McDonald already booked to ride.
“Maybe (if he drew) barrier 20, but when we’re committed to James I’d say he’d come up,” Waller stated when questioned about what might dissuade him from entering the Epsom.
“He’s not back from Melbourne, he’s going to gallop there Tuesday and he’s going to come back Wednesday night. I guess there is a five per cent chance I could run him in the Turnbull, but that’s highly unlikely. He’ll run in the Epsom, that’s our plan and James (McDonald) is booked to ride him so that’s showing our hand pretty firmly.”
As a contingency, Autumn Boy was entered for Saturday’s Turnbull Stakes at Flemington. However, Waller’s likely representatives for that $1 million Group 1 event are Aeliana, Asterix, Buckaroo, Birdman, and O’Hope Wins.
This weekend, Autumn Boy will aim to improve on his runner-up finish in Randwick’s other major Group 1 mile handicap, the Doncaster Mile, where he was beaten by Sheza Alibi in April of this year. He also secured a second placing behind the Victorian mare in the Randwick Guineas and most recently in the 1600m Makybe Diva Stakes on September 12.
Autumn Boy carries 55.5kg in the Epsom Handicap, where he is currently the $3.50 favourite, ahead of the undefeated New Zealand galloper Well Written ($4.50), Attica ($6), and Ceolwulf ($8).
For the Epsom Handicap, Autumn Boy is rated the $3.50 favourite with 55.5kg, facing strong competition from the unbeaten Kiwi star Well Written ($4.50), Attica ($6), and Ceolwulf ($8) in the betting markets.
