Trainer Chris Waller has expressed a belief that there is unfinished business for the talented colt Autumn Boy, who is set to be given the chance to achieve what his sire, The Autumn Sun, could not.
The Autumn Sun, also under Waller’s tutelage, retired with an impressive record of eight wins from nine starts. His residual value led to his retirement at the conclusion of his three-year-old season, taking up stud duties at John Messara’s Arrowfield Stud.
Waller is of the opinion that The Autumn Sun possessed the potential to reach even greater heights as an older horse. While that opportunity never materialised for the sire, Autumn Boy will be afforded that chance.
“The Autumn Sun – and I think Mr Messara would agree – would have been even better at four, but his value was so high he had to be retired,” Waller stated. “He won five Group One races and only raced for twelve months. When I (first) saw him at the farm, I said, ‘Wow. Imagine if he was in work now’.
“We’ve got that opportunity with Autumn Boy. He’s racing on at four and I’m excited about that. There is unfinished business with what we didn’t quite see with The Autumn Sun. He might have pressed Winx in a Cox Plate.”
Autumn Boy has been carefully managed throughout his career, securing four victories, most notably Group 1 wins in the Caulfield and Rosehill Guineas, races his sire also claimed in the 2018-19 period.
Following a quiet barrier trial, the colt is scheduled for another hit-out, with the Winx Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on August 22 being considered as a potential starting point for his spring campaign.
“He’s come back amazing,” Waller commented. “Maybe I’m getting ahead of myself because we haven’t really tested him, but everything we have asked him to do, he’s done it well.
“His attitude is fantastic. You hear me talk about attitudes a lot and that’s the difference with a (good) colt is their attitude.”
Autumn Boy’s last competitive outing was when he finished second to Sheza Alibi in the Doncaster Mile (1600m). He is currently a significant contender in early betting for several major spring races, including the Epsom Handicap (1600m), where he is priced at $8, and the Golden Eagle (1500m), available at $11 on the fourth line of betting.
He is a leading contender for the Epsom Handicap, and you can find the best racing odds at Australian betting sites.
