Chris Waller’s ambition to assess Autumn Boy’s suitability for the Cox Plate during spring has prompted him to step the colt up to 2000 metres for the initial occasion in the Rosehill Guineas.
The three-year-old had been an option for the George Ryder Stakes (1500m) on the Golden Slipper card this Saturday, and although clashing with undefeated stable companion Autumn Glow posed an issue, Waller clarified that opting for the Guineas wasn’t to avoid her.
“We could have gone the shorter option for him and run into Autumn Glow in a George Ryder and Doncaster, and we could still go to a Doncaster,” Waller said.
“But I want to know whether he is a solid, 2000-metre horse to see whether he’s in a Cox Plate when he comes back in the spring.”
A Group 1 victor in the Caulfield Guineas at a mile, Autumn Boy has posted third to Ninja in the Hobartville Stakes (1400m) and runner-up to emerging talent Sheza Alibi in the Randwick Guineas (1600m) across his two starts this campaign.
Co-trainer Peter Moody has verified the filly’s next target as the Doncaster Mile (1600m), clearing Sheza Alibi from Rosehill, where Waller anticipates Autumn Boy will be much sharper following his pair of recent outings.
“He ran into a pretty smart one last week, but he will be ready to peak as well third-up,” he said.
Waller fitted blinkers to Autumn Boy in his prior preparation but has omitted them this campaign and won’t apply them for Saturday.
The colt seeks to replicate his sire The Autumn Sun’s achievement, securing the 2018 Caulfield Guineas before annexing the Rosehill Guineas the following year.
Waller noted that stablemate Providence, seventh in the Randwick Guineas, will skip Saturday’s Group 1 in favour of the Group 3 Carbine Club Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on April 4 and the Frank Packer Plate (2000m) two weeks after.
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