Rising star The Autumn Sun had to dig deep to hold off a determined Arrogant to score a tough win on a heavy track in the Group 1 $600,000 Sky Racing Rosehill Guineas (2000m) at Rosehill today.
The Autumn Sun, above, scores a tough win in the 2019 Rosehill Guineas at Rosehill. Photo by Steve Hart.
Kerrin McEvoy put The Autumn Sun to the ultimate test at his first try at 2000m and started to push the Chris Waller trained colt forward from the 600m after sitting in fifth and sixth position in the middle section of the race.
McEvoy didn’t want to be left flat footed again and had The Autumn Sun challenging the leaders Crown Prosecutor and Arrogant on the home turn.
The Autumn Sun appeared to cruise to the lead at the 300m mark but the Mike Moroney trained Arrogant ($26) was in for the fight and wouldn’t lie down but The Autumn Sun ($1.40 favourite) showed his toughness and class and held on to score a head win.
Third placegetter Chapada ($26) gave Moroney both the minor placings behind the hot pot favourite.
Waller admitted that it was a tough effort for The Autumn Sun in the heavy conditions and he will see how the colt pulls up before making any further Autumn Carnival plans.
“That was a good test the last 200m. The inside horse was laying all over him but he just didn’t lie down. He’s a really tough horse. We were really testing him today over 2000m and only a champion comes out like he’s done and he’s done it,” Waller said.
“I could see as soon as they went 400m it was going to be a really tough staying test and that’s the way it worked out. Just look at the margins they’ve come home in – it was pretty close from winner to second but behind that there were some really tired horses.”
“There was concern earlier in the week whether he should be running on a heavy track because he’s still young and not a horse that’s fully matured. It’s through his sportsmanship that we brought him here and he’s a very good horse.”
McEvoy gave The Autumn Sun plenty of praise after producing such a hard fought win to claim his fifth Group 1 trophy from only nine race starts.
“It wasn’t a heart attack at the 600m but it was a bit at the 100m. He’s a real gritty colt and his record suggests that. He toughed it out at 2000m, his first try at the trip, and he toughed it out really well,” McEvoy said.
“To his credit he was able to hold the second horse off. He didn’t really like the really heavy track. Once he saw that other horse he went again. He’s a top colt and his record shows that. A beautiful horse and it’s nice to be part of his career.”
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