Sensational Caulfield Guineas winner The Autumn Sun won’t be rising up against his super star stablemate Winx in the 2018 Group 1 $5m Ladbrokes Cox Plate (2040m) at The Valley on October 27.
The Autumn Sun, above, will be spelled and not run in the 2018 Cox Plate at The Valley. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
The Autumn Sun made it a one horse race when he powered away to score a four and a half lengths win in last Saturday’s Group 1 $2m Ladbrokes Caulfield Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield and the scene was set for a clash with Winx in the ‘Weight For Age Championship’ in a fortnight.
Trainer Chris Waller has said in the past that he thought the lightly raced The Autumn Sun still needed plenty of maturing to happen before he reaches his full potential and along with the owner group, it has been decided that the Redoute’s Choice colt will be spelled before any decision was made on a 2019 Autumn Carnival campaign.
“Following consultation with the owners of The Autumn Sun, it has been decided that he will be spelled and will not race on during the spring carnival of 2018,” Waller said.
“No firm plans have been discussed in relation to his program for next year, however it will be our goal to ensure he is racing in elite company and ensuring his talent as a more mature colt is showcased to all racing fans.
“The Autumn Sun is an incredibly exciting colt and I am very proud of his achievements in his short career to date.
“I do understand that there was a level of expectation to see him race again this spring, however my job is to ensure we see the best of what The Autumn Sun has to offer with longevity our primary concern when considering his immediate future.”
“When you consider he had his first career start under 6 months ago and only had a short break between his Winter and Spring campaigns, it is in The Autumn Sun’s best interest to have a good spell now and be ready to return a fully mature colt in early 2019.
The Autumn Sun has only been to the races on six occasions for five wins and a third with three of those wins at Group 1 level and has earned just over $2.3 million in prizemoney.
As well as winning the Caulfield Guineas and the Group 1 $1m De Bortoli Wines Golden Rose Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill three weeks prior as an early three year old, The Autumn Sun was also a Group 1 winner as a late two year old when he stormed home from back in the field to win the Group 1 $600,000 Jaguar Land Rover J.J. Atkins Plate (1600m) at Doomben during the 2018 Brisbane Winter Carnival.
World champion Winx will be chasing her twenty-ninth straight win when she lines up to attempt to win her fourth successive Cox Plate in a fortnight and is at the very short quote of $1.25 with Ladbrokes.com.au.
On the second line of Cox Plate betting at $9 is the Godolphin owned, Saeed Bin Suroor trained Benbatl who lived up to his high international rating with a tough win in the Group 1 $1m Ladbrokes Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield last Saturday.
Early betting for the 2018 Cox Plate at Ladbrokes.com.au: $1.25 Winx, $9 Benbatl, $15 Humidor, $17 Blair House, $26 Avilius, $31 D’Argento, Kings Will Dream, Savvy Coup, The Cliffsofmoher, Unforgotten, $61 Homesman, Night’s Watch, $101 Harlem, Rostropovich, The Taj Mahal, Thinkin’ Big, $201 Arbeitsam, Danon Liberty, El Dorado Dreaming, Mr Garcia, Plein Ciel, Siege Of Quebec, Trap For Fools.
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