It seems The Autumn Sun is almost certainly be spelled for the autumn.
Camera IconIt seems The Autumn Sun is almost certainly be spelled for the autumn. Credit: News Corp Australia

The Autumn Sun likely to miss Cox Plate clash with Winx and head to the spelling paddock

MICHAEL MANLEY AND LEO SCHLINKHerald Sun

OLIVER Koolman, managing owner of The Autumn Sun has said a clash with superstar stablemate Winx in the Cox Plate is unlikely.

Racing fans were drooling with the prospect of the Chris Waller superstars going head to head at The Valley after The Autumn Sun’s ridiculously easy win in the Caulfield Guineas on Saturday.

Koolman said that The Autumn Sun would almost certainly be spelled for the autumn.

Arrowfield Stud’s director John Messara, who bought 50 per cent of the colt last week, though has indicated a final decision won’t be made until Monday morning.

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Koolman, speaking on RSN’s Talking Horses, said The Autumn Sun’s trainer Chris Waller always looked after the best interests of the horse and he was likely to be spelled.

“I don’t believe personally he will run. Part of the reason we sent him to Chris Waller was that he doesn’t put pressure on young horses,” Koolman said.

The Autumn Sun, ridden by James McDonald, makes easy work of the Caulfield Guineas.
Camera IconThe Autumn Sun, ridden by James McDonald, makes easy work of the Caulfield Guineas. Credit: News Corp Australia

“If he ran in a Cox Plate it could bust him. The way he trains he nurses them for longevity

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“In our minds it would nice but to be honest we’ve talked more about travelling the horse rather than the Cox Plate

“He’ll probably come home and get ready for the autumn but it’s up to Chris.”

Messara said on Sunday though that a final decision would be made Monday morning.

He said there would be a meeting with Waller and the connections.

Trainer Chris Waller (third right) with The Autumn Sun and connections after Saturday’s Caulfield Guineas victory.
Camera IconTrainer Chris Waller (third right) with The Autumn Sun and connections after Saturday’s Caulfield Guineas victory. Credit: Getty Images

Koolman said throughout Winx’s career, Waller had always done the right thing by her and he expected that would happen with The Autumn Sun.

“After she won the Queen Elizabeth last year, she came back to our property to spell and Chris could have run her in the Doncaster but he elected to look after her.”

“He believes if you look after your horse you’ll get a lot more from them during their career.”

“That’s why they keep coming back year after year. Chris doesn’t empty out his horses when they’re young, which is why we sent The Autumn Sun to him in the first place.”

“You know he’ll continue to look after your horse and as a result it won’t have one flash-in-the-pan preparation.”

MONDAY RACEBOOK WITH LEO SCHLINK

CLASSY CAULFIELD

RACING purists have long subscribed to the view if Flemington’s fabulous Derby Day meeting is the highpoint of the Australian racing calendar, the Caulfield Guineas meeting is at least its equal.

And so it proved on Saturday with a smorgasbord of incredible racing, appropriately crowned by star performers from all parts of the globe.

The gorgeous weather was obviously a bonus and with more than 22,000 packing The Heath, a sense of theatre had Caulfield buzzing.

Equine superstars crowned the occasion, none better than remarkable The Autumn Sun, now dual hemisphere Group 1 winner Benbatl and then, to close out the program, Yucatan’s explosive Herbert Power win.

Throw in the deeds of Land Of Plenty, Amphitrite, Sunlight Ball Of Muscle, Winter Bride, Iconoclasm and Champagne Boom and little wonder TAB turnover surged by nine percent on the corresponding meeting last year.

The ramifications for the remaining spring features are significant, too, with the emergence of Benbatl (Cox Plate) and Yucatan (Melbourne Cup) — to say nothing of where The Autumn Sun goes next.

The stage has been well and truly set for Wednesday’s Blue Sapphire and Saturday’s Caulfield Cup meetings.

WEIR TRAIN

PUNTERS and rival trainers alike are well accustomed to the remorseless reach of Darren Weir’s operation.

On Saturday alone, it was no different as Victoria’s premier stable fielded 48 runners at four different tracks.

Weir’s tentacles extended to Caulfield with 23 runners, Hamilton (13), Morphettville (seven) and Randwick (five).

By day’s end, Weir had registered five wins, two seconds and three thirds.

The haul, capped by the Caulfield victories of Land Of Plenty, Amphitrite and Iconoclasm, shunted Weir to 133 wins for the season.

To put that figure in context, Chris Waller is next with 72. The same Chris Waller whose yard boasts the likes of Winx, The Autumn Sun and Youngstar.

Weir has about 250 horses in work across three venues — Maldon, Ballarat and Warrnambool.

The logistics are almost incomprehensible.

Trainer Charlie Appleby understands what is required Down Under.
Camera IconTrainer Charlie Appleby understands what is required Down Under. Credit: News Corp Australia, Mark Stewart

CONTRASTING SHADES OF BLUE

TO SUGGEST Charlie Appleby has made a decent fist of his annual spring sorties to Australia is to vastly understate his achievements.

The Englishman has seemingly perfected racing’s most complex challenge — travelling internationally and winning — with a faculty beyond most of his peers.

Appleby understands Australian racing and prepares accordingly.

For all his success, nothing jolts as painfully as the loss of a treasured horse and such is the case with Hamada.

The galloper’s death on Saturday shattered the Appleby camp, none more so than the horse’s loyal groom.

With one Group 1 in the bag with Jungle Cat on this trip and a near-miss with Blair House behind fellow Godolphin trainer Saeed bin Suroor, the trip has had its moments.

For bin Suroor, Benbatl’s outstanding Caulfield Stakes win gives an already magnetic Cox Plate even more dimension as the raider lays siege to Winx’s Valley crown.

AND STILL THEY COME

SHOVED into the background by the glut of quality competition over the weekend was the arrival of another wave — and possibly the best — of internationals.

Irish Derby winner Latrobe, Idaho, Rostropovich, Nakeeta, Magic Circle, Marmelo, Muntahaa and The Pentagon are all now safely ensconced at Werribee, alongside 23 other visitors.

The O’Brien – Aidan and Joseph’s – entry wasted no time in stretching their legs yesterday.

Joseph O’Brien is attempting to win the Melbourne Cup for the second year in a row with a northern hemisphere three-year-old — Latrobe — after managing the feat last season with Rekindling.

His father will bid for his first Cup success with Idaho, Rostropovich and The Pentagon, having last year finished second with Johannes Vermeer.

THE WEEK AHEAD

THE Caulfield Cup looms large after a fascinating build-up at The Heath on Saturday. As is becoming the custom, a string of internationals will lay siege to the $5 million handicap.

Always a wonderful meeting, the 10-race program features Group contests, including the Caulfield Classic, Tristarc, Coongy, Ethereal and Caulfield Sprint.

The all-important Caulfield Cup draw takes place on Wednesday as a pipe-opener to the Group 3 Blue Sapphire Stakes.

The meeting also boasts the Group 3 Ladies Day Vase and Listed Caulfield Village Stakes.

Originally published as Sun block likely on Winx clash