Autumn Boy made a memorable debut at Canterbury on Monday, defying the odds and a heavily backed stablemate to score in the Drinkwise Plate (1250m).

Trained by Chris Waller, the colt surged late under jockey Jason Collett to snatch victory from stablemate Central Coast, who was sent out as the $1.65 favourite on betting sites.

Despite his $51 starting price, Autumn Boy showed a sharp turn-of-foot to grab the win by a short neck, making a big impression on debut.

“He’s always been lovely to work with and very straightforward at home,” said Waller’s assistant Charlie Duckworth.

“He’s passive and probably hasn’t really been tested until today. That finish showed us plenty.”

Bred by The Autumn Sun and out of Savabeel mare Rosegarden, Autumn Boy was purchased for $200,000 at the 2024 Magic Millions Yearling Sale by Waller and Guy Mulcaster.

Collett praised the colt’s potential, noting, “He’d already caught my eye at the trials and has clearly improved since. He’s a lovely type and there’s more to come.”

His sire, The Autumn Sun, won five Group 1s between 1400m and 2000m, including the Caulfield Guineas (1600m) and Rosehill Guineas (2000m), suggesting Autumn Boy will appreciate further distance as he matures.

In the fillies’ division, the Bjorn Baker-trained Pillow Fight ($8) also scored on debut, and racing manager Luke Hilton believes she too has a future over longer trips. The Zoustar filly was a $375,000 buy at the same Magic Millions sale.