Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)
Autumn Glory (Ocean Park) came off the bench to secure her future broodmare career when taking out the Gr.2 Legacy Lodge Waikato Guineas (2000m) at Te Rapa on Saturday.
The daughter of Ocean Park was first on the ballot for the Guineas and was set to contest the Gr.3 David & Karyn Ellis Fillies Classic (2100m) later on the card, however, she gained a berth against the boys when Single Red was withdrawn from the Guineas in favour of the fillies feature, and trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood jumped at the opportunity.
She doubled the stable’s presence in the race, who were also lining up Waikato Stud filly Waimea Bay, who was backed into a $7.60 third favourite following her runner-up effort in the Gr.3 Desert Gold Stakes (1600m) at Trentham last month.
In complete contrast, Autumn Glory was seventh on an unsuitable Heavy10 track in the Listed Grangewilliam Stud Oaks Prelude (1800m) at New Plymouth last month, following her debut win at Ruakaka, and jumped a 50-1 outsider.
From their wide gate, jockey Vinnie Colgan was content going back early to sit off the pace with Autumn Glory, while Waimea Bay was sent forward by her rider George Rooke to hunt for the lead.
It wasn’t there for the daughter of Savabeel, who was forced to sit parked outside leader Geneva, while Autumn Glory continued to do no work towards the back of the pack.
From the 600m, Colgan was able to save ground on the fence and presented his charge three-wide behind Yamato Satona turning for home. They slingshot off his back with 200m to go and Autumn Glory showed a good turn of foot to pick up the Wexford-trained gelding and reeled in favourite Towering Vision to win by a long neck.
It was the first time Colgan had ridden Autumn Glory and he said he felt that he hopped on something special when legged up on the filly in the parade ring.
“I didn’t know too much about her other than her maiden win at Ruakaka and the Taranaki track was against her last start,” Colgan said. “Getting on her in the parade ring I knew I was on a pretty nice type of animal.
“She travelled off pace, picked up from the half mile and tracked up nicely. Turning for home I had plenty of horse under me and she got to the line strong.”
While disappointed in her last start showing, her trainers had been pleased with her progress since then and they were confident of a bold showing following her work during the week.
“She went down to that Oaks trial on a very wet track and clearly went poorly, but it was wet so you can’t take too much out of that,” Wellwood said.
“She came through it well and anyone who would have seen her work on Tuesday would have said you would have to have something each way, she worked the house down.
“We felt this (Guineas) was a softer option than the fillies race and we wanted to get her back on track with a bit of confidence post that Taranaki run, so it was good to get the job done.
“It was nice to get a result for the Smithies boys (Monovale Farm), they have been great supporters, and she is a nice one for the broodmare paddock.”
The Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m) at Ellerslie in a fortnight looms as her next target, with Colgan believing she will lap up the extra distance.
“Rounding past the 1000m she was only just on the bridle, she wasn’t over racing at all, so the further she goes the better,” he said.
Bred and raced by Monovale Holdings Ltd, Autumn Glory is by Ocean Park and out of winning Viscount mare Venus’s Dream, a half-sister to Group One performer Spring Heat.
Autumn Glory has now won two of her three starts and earned just shy of $170,000 in prizemoney.
