Autumn Glow crowns her unbeaten Sydney spring in the King Charles

Autumn Glow had cruised to the lead in the Group 1 $5 million King Charles III Stakes (1600m) at the top of the straight when Ceolwulf began to move into the race.

Chris Waller turned to Beadman and said: “Are we in trouble? Straight away, Darren said, ‘No!'”

Beadman was right as Autumn Glow easily repelled the Ceolwulf challenge to win with her typical ruthless efficiency at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

There’s an arrogance about Autumn Glow’s races because she is simply so superior but there are few more thrilling sights in racing than the mighty mare in full flight.

“What makes her so good?” Waller said, repeating the question. “She is very athletic, she has a great mind and natural brilliance.”I think natural brilliance outweighs almost everything else because it is a rare gift.”

The same question was posed to Autumn Glow’s jockey James Mcdonald and he replied: “Tractability, sustained speed and her turn of foot!”

“I don’t think there is a horse that has run past her,” McDonald said. “She couldn’t catch Sir Delius (in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes last April).

“Obivously, Ceolwulf is a very good competitor and with blinkers on he had every chance today but still couldn’t beat her.

“She loves her racing, too. When the pace quickened she loved it, she really picks up and wants me to let her go.

“But she also knows when it is time to win the race. She’s an incredible horse, a great athlete.”

Autumn Glow ($1.26 favourite) raced clear in the straight and had a two-and-a-half length margin on Ceolwulf ($4.80) as they put more than seven lengths on early leader Just Folk ($41).

She has now won her 14th race from just 15 starts, recording her fifth Group 1 win, and increased her career earnings to more than $12.8 million.

Hong Kong’s champion jockey Zac Purton rode Militarize who finished at the rear of the five-horse field and summed up the race perfectly when he said: “The best part of that race was watching Autumn Glow. She is a star.”

Waller, who trained his 10th winner of the King Charles III (formerly George Main) Stakes with Autumn Glow, said the mare is the “absolute professional”.

“We asked her to do a bit more work during the week expecting a wet track and more speed in the race,” Waller said.

“But she took it all in her stride and came out and did that today.

“In modern day racing we have seen quite a few times this spring with tearaway leaders so we have to have them a little bit fitter.

“But it doesn’t matter how you train her, we just keep it simple and she trains herself.

“It has been an honour to be working with some great horses like her.”

Autumn Glow’s facile win looked so routine it was easy to forget that this was a Group 1 race with Ceolwulf attempting to win a third successive King Charles III Stakes.

“She lobbed into a good spot then I clicked her up at the 600m,” McDonald said.

I wanted to open her up today because she hasn’t had a lung buster for a few starts. “I opened her up and she got to the line. I was waiting for Ceolwulf with his blinkers on, he never came.”

Autumn Glow, the reigning Horse of the Year, has been unbeaten in her three starts in Sydney this spring, winning the Group 1 Winx Stakes, Group 2 Seven Sunrise Stakes and Group 1 Charles III Stakes easily and there is a likelihood her campaign will continue to include one more start, the Group 1 Champions Mile at Flemington on November 7.

“We will have a chat with Mr Messara and Hermitage and see what they want to do,” Waller said.

“But we also want to make sure she has a long career so we want to look after her.

“She will go to the paddock for three days or so and we will enjoy this win.”

Chad Schofield, full of confidence after his Everest-winning ride on Tempted, gave Ceolwulf every possible chance but Autumn Glow was just too good.

“I was really proud of him,” Schofield said. “He was very good there.

“I followed her everywhere she went, she quickened very well but so did we.

“She was always holding a good margin on us but she wasn’t getting away from us. I looked after him late in case they want to go next week (to the Cox Plate).”