Autumn Glow continued her remarkable journey in the world of horse racing by securing her eighth consecutive victory at the prestigious $10 million Golden Eagle held at Randwick on Saturday. Champion jockey James McDonald took the four-year-old mare to victory as she exhibited her explosive ability and raw power. She opened up a clear lead around the turn and showed tremendous power through the stretch.
While Autumn Glow continued to pull away, Sepals held on to an admirable second place, with Evaporate completing the trifecta. The race showed a significant on pace bias, with Autumn Glow setting the pace and running away with the race by 12 lengths. Her most recent victory has sparked exciting comparisons to the great mare Winx. Australia’s leading trainer Chris Waller met these sentiments with scepticism.
“We’re experiencing something really special here,” Waller said, stressing Autumn Glow’s distinctive nature. He added, “I don’t care if she gets beaten; she’s a star in herself and the sequence is irrelevant.” Waller acknowledged the challenges of the day’s racing conditions, noting that “the horses on pace were dominating the day” and that some horses struggled with the track’s condition.
McDonald expressed his admiration for Autumn Glow, stating, “She gives me that ooh-la-la feeling. I’d love to see her in a Cox Plate.” He further emphasized that the performance marked the first time they truly opened her up, stating, “For her to come out like that over the 100m mark was pretty special.” His confidence in her potential was clear as he remarked, “I don’t think we’ve seen the best version of her yet either. We’re so lucky to have her.”
Darren Flindell, NSW racing commentator, expressed his enthusiasm when he saw Autumn Glow’s most recent run. He stated, “We are looking at greatness, another chapter in this stunning career,” highlighting the mare’s growing legacy in thoroughbred racing.
