Autumn Glow is the strong favourite to win the $1 million 7 Stakes at Randwick. While her connections expect her to perform to her short quote, they are also wary of the tactical challenges that a small field can present.
Chris Waller has decided to scratch stablemates Lindermann and Lady Shenandoah, preferring to run them in Group 1 races in Melbourne, leaving Autumn Glow with only four opponents. All of these rivals are proven performers at the highest level of racing.
Waller’s assistant trainer, Charlie Duckworth, admitted that the reduced field size for the 7 Stakes (1600m) might not be an advantage. “It’s probably worse. It’s obviously going to make it more tactical,” Duckworth said.
He elaborated further, “If she runs the same figures then she should win, but if she gets cluttered up… you see more hard luck stories in a small field than you do in a field of sixteen. We’ve just got to weigh up exactly how she gets ridden. She is very adaptable. You can ride her from anywhere. You can take luck out of the equation and going forward is obviously an option, and then you make your own luck.”
When asked if the connections would consider leading with Autumn Glow, Duckworth indicated that all tactical options would be on the table. “I don’t think so at all. She has gone forward in the past and been happy enough to cruise up close to the speed,” he commented.
The incomparable mare Winx started odds-on in 31 of her 43 starts, with her shortest quote being $1.05 when she won the 2019 George Ryder Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill.
Autumn Glow has started in the red in 10 of her 13 appearances and is set to go around at her skinniest price yet this Saturday.
The horse next in line in the market is Gringotts at $9, while Autumn Glow’s stablemate, Aeliana, is a $15 chance and will take her place after being withdrawn from the Underwood Stakes (1800m) in Melbourne.
Aeliana disappointed first-up when she failed to beat a rival home in the Winx Stakes (1400m), but with a less hectic tempo anticipated at Randwick, the stable is expecting a much-improved showing.
However, Duckworth noted that Aeliana was still to fully develop her winter coat and that Sydney’s slightly milder climate was a factor in her remaining closer to home for another run. “Chris is just conscious of Aeliana. She takes forever to lose that winter coat and while there’s a bit more warmth up here, we’ll keep her up here for another couple of weeks before ultimately heading down for a Cox Plate,” Duckworth explained.
Saturday will be just the fourth running of the 7 Stakes (1600m), with the Kerry Parker-trained Think It Over winning the inaugural instalment in 2023 and Waller’s Fangirl capturing the past two editions.
Punters can explore the latest racing odds for the 7 Stakes at leading online bookmakers.