The Group 1 Randwick Guineas is on the horizon for The Autumn Sun after the odds on favourite returned to the race track with a gutsy win in the Group 2 $400,000 Hobartville Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill today.
The Autumn Sun, above, scores a first up win in the 2019 Hobartville Stakes at Rosehill. Photo by Steve Hart.
The Autumn Sun is also the odds on favourite for the Group 1 $1m Mostyn Copper Randwick Guineas (1600m) at Randwick on March 9 and kept his credentials high with a last to first win at his first run back since winning the Group 1 $2m Ladbrokes Caulfield Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield during the 2018 Melbourne Spring Carnival.
Jockey Kerrin McEvoy settled The Autumn Sun ($1.55 favourite) at the tail of the six horse field and the Group 1 winning three year old took the whole length of the straight to run down the previously unbeaten Vegadaze ($3.70) with Bondi ($9) securing third place.
McEvoy had to steer to the middle of the track in the straight and gave The Autumn Sun plenty of room to work into his stride and was at full flight when he claimed Vegadaze to record a half a length win.
Trainer Chris Waller was glad to see The Autumn Sun come back a winner and will now prepare the colt for the Randwick Guineas in two weeks time.
“It was a good and that is all he needed to do in my eye,” Waller said.
“That will just top him off nicely for the Randwick Guineas in two weeks time.”
“You never know where a horse is until you have their first up run and then obviously running on a pretty wet track today was testing and probably took a little bit of that brilliance away and watch out when he backs to a good track next start.”
“On these types of tracks it is hard to make up ground and that is what good horses do.”
“The Randwick Guineas is the race he has been set for.”
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