An intent to trial Autumn Boy’s credentials for the spring Cox Plate has led Chris Waller to advance the colt to a first 2000-metre test in the Rosehill Guineas.
Golden Slipper day’s George Ryder Stakes (1500m) was under contemplation for the three-year-old, where unbeaten Autumn Glow from the stable would clash, but Waller emphasised the Guineas selection isn’t evasion.
“We could have gone the shorter option for him and run into Autumn Glow in a George Ryder and Doncaster, and we could still go to a Doncaster,” Waller said.
“But I want to know whether he is a solid, 2000-metre horse to see whether he’s in a Cox Plate when he comes back in the spring.”
Group 1 Caulfield Guineas mile winner Autumn Boy has been third past Ninja in the Hobartville Stakes (1400m) and runner-up to budding star Sheza Alibi in the Randwick Guineas (1600m) in two campaign starts.
Sheza Alibi bypasses Rosehill for the Doncaster Mile (1600m) as per co-trainer Peter Moody, allowing Waller to predict a fitter Autumn Boy third-up.
“He ran into a pretty smart one last week, but he will be ready to peak as well third-up,” he said.
This campaign lacks the blinkers from Autumn Boy’s previous preparation, and Waller won’t fit them Saturday.
A triumph emulating sire The Autumn Sun—who took the 2018 Caulfield Guineas and added the Rosehill Guineas—is Autumn Boy’s goal.
Per Waller, stablemate Providence after seventh in the Randwick Guineas skips the Group 1, targeting instead the Group 3 Carbine Club Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on April 4 and Frank Packer Plate (2000m) a fortnight on.
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