The Seven Sunrise Stakes became a genuine contest, a tactically compelling race, and rival riders certainly didn’t make it easy for Autumn Glow, but as champions do, she found a way to triumph.

Autumn Glow was compelled to lead, faced challenges on the turn, yet accelerated away from her competitors to secure an exciting victory in the Group 2 $1 million Seven Sunrise Stakes (1600m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

The reigning Horse of the Year was almost a guaranteed winner at $1.16, and her victory was anticipated in what many foresaw as a sit-and-sprint affair against only four other runners.

However, the race evolved into a serious challenge, and Autumn Glow needed to record a swift Randwick mile time of 1 minute 33.78 seconds to win, with her margin of one-and-a-quarter lengths not fully conveying her dominance.

Hall of Fame trainer Chris Waller mentioned he had discussed tactics with jockey James McDonald prior to the race, and both acknowledged that Autumn Glow might have to set the pace from the front.

“James said we might end up in front and Nash (Rawiller, Gringotts) might be there,” Waller stated.

“We both decided we will just play it as it comes, (the tactic discussion) nothing too serious, just settling the nerves really.

“But it was good to watch and showed how versatile she is, like she can put herself there or can go back, she just has a great turn of foot.

“I know she was the short priced favourite but the horses in this race are all handy horses.

“There was a sprint from the 500m when it got serious so it was good to see her lift and draw clear in the end.”

Autumn Glow ($1.16) experienced brief pressure approaching the rise as Gringotts, Ceolwulf, and Idle Flyer made early moves to challenge her, but the champion mare extended her lead to win quite comfortably at the finish line.

Aeliana ($21) surged through near the rails late in the race to claim a very respectable second place, a half-neck ahead of Ceolwulf ($15).

Idle Flyer finished a neck behind in fourth, and Gringotts was alongside the placegetters, with only two lengths separating the entire five-horse field from first to last.

Autumn Glow enhanced her race record to 13 wins and a third placing from 14 starts, accumulating career earnings close to $10 million, yet observing her win is never just a routine event.

She races in an ‘box office’ fashion and had over 10,000 spectators at Royal Randwick cheering the magnificent mare to the finish line.

McDonald indicated he approached the race with an open mind regarding Autumn Glow’s position in the small field, and leading was not necessarily his initial plan.

“I’d have been happy in three positions – first, second or third,” McDonald commented.

“But once I got control, she just did it herself. She will jump out of the ground third-up.

“She went three quarter pace around then dashed home. They came after me, you probably could say they got to her at the top of the straight, but I let her balance up and she went away with it.

“She did what we needed her to do today. She had fun doing it – ears pricked the whole way.”

Owner John Messara believes this could be Autumn Glow’s most successful racing season, and the evidence from her wins in the Winx Stakes and Seven Sunrise Stakes to commence her five-year-old season makes it difficult to disagree.

“Autumn Glow showed us today how versatile she is, she ran a very sharp time overall and I would say it was one of her better wins,” Messara remarked.

“I suspect James McDonald had a fair bit left in the ‘petrol tank’, too.

“There is improvement to come because her coat is not quite there yet but it will be perfect for King Charles Day.”

Messara considers Autumn Glow the finest horse he has ever owned and admitted he is less concerned about race outcomes now.

“I worry less now because she has won so many races but it is always a relief when the race is over,” Messara stated.

“I no longer worry about winning or losing, we are more worried about the mare and the jockey coming through the race safely.”

Waller, who observed the race from the trainer’s room and lauded commentator Darren Flindell’s race call as “amazing”, confirmed Autumn Glow is being prepared to peak for the Group 1 $5 million King Charles III Stakes (1600m) at Royal Randwick on October 17.

“I’m pretty happy where Autumn Glow is at but there is some improvement to come, we haven’t screwed her down yet,” Waller said.

“We will just look after her and she will do the rest.”

Waller, who also celebrated Group 1 victories with Angel Capital in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes and Birdman in the Underwood Stakes at Caulfield, expressed no regret over the decision to target the King Charles III Stakes instead of the Group 1 $20 million The Everest (1200m) on the same day.

“I’m happy and comfortable with the decision (to go to the King Charles III Stakes),” Waller explained.

“I don’t have second thoughts, once we make a decision as a group, the ownership, jockey, my team, we run with it.

“I hope it is a great contest and if something beats Ka Ying Rising, good luck to them.”

Waller’s stable achieved a quinella in the Seven Sunrise Stakes, with Aeliana finishing strongly for second place.

“That was just as satisfying, if not more satisfying,” Waller commented.

“There was nothing wrong with her first up run, Nash got off her last start and said she is going great but the way the race was run, she just couldn’t get into it.

“It was good to see her acquit herself well today. If she had run third or fourth I would have said good run but to see her push through the last 50m was great.”

Autumn Glow is not scheduled to race again until the King Charles, while Aeliana is expected to contest the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on October 3.

Ceolwulf, Idle Flyer, and Gringotts performed very competitively and might face each other again on October 3 in the Group 1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Royal Randwick.

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