The Autumn Sun has emerged as a colt with potential after making an eye-catching debut during the Anzac Day meeting at Randwick.
A Queensland winter carnival campaign now looms after his commanding victory in the Armistice Plate (1200m) with the Group One JJ Atkins (1600m) a logical target at Doomben on June 9.
Despite being trapped three wide during the trip with Kerrin McEvoy, the Redoute’s Choice two-year-old had enough in reserve to skip clear from stablemate Pembroke Castle at the 100.
The Autumn Sun ($3.60) scored by 1-1/2 lengths from Danawi, the $2.50 favourite.
Coterie ($8) also overhauled pace setter Pembroke Castle to take third a half-length further back.
“Watching it in the middle stages we were thinking this is exactly what we didn’t want to see on a horse having their debut run being three wide, but obviously he was too classy for them,” said trainer Chris Waller’s racing manager Charlie Duckworth.
“He’ll head to Queensland now. That’s exactly what we want to see on debut, doing everything right despite not having the greatest of runs in transit,” he said.
The Autumn Sun, a $700,000 yearling sale purchase, had four trials before heading to a race day as Waller gave him scope to develop.
“He’s shown a massive amount of potential to us at home right from his first trial pre-Christmas and we’ve allowed him to get here today under his own steam,” Duckworth said.
McEvoy was impressed and said The Autumn Sun would thrive over longer trips, and as a three-year-old.
“The penny hasn’t fully dropped but he’s got plenty of ability, he covers the ground nicely,” he said.
Eawase claimed the two-year-old maiden for fillies from stablemate Galina and the pair are also set the head north for trainers Peter and Paul Snowden and the China Horse Club.
Scone and Brisbane are on the agenda after Eawase ($5) edged Galina ($5.50) by a half neck in the Unconquered Plate (1200m). Colombina ($5) was two lengths third.
