Australia: Autumn Glow takes on boys in Winx Stakes

The undefeated record is gone, but the reputation is intact. Autumn Glow is the mare to beat in Australia, even when she faces males.

On Saturday, Autumn Glow will race for the first time since April in the Group 1 Winx Stakes at seven furlongs against males at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney. Despite a third-place finish by 2 1/2 lengths in her last start, the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes against males at 1 1/4 miles at Randwick on April 11, Autumn Glow is the odds-on favorite in early betting for the $711,700 Winx.

Trained by Chris Waller, Autumn Glow, a 5-year-old Australian-bred by The Autumn Sun, won her first 11 starts, a span that included three Group 1 races at 7 1/2 furlongs and a mile since last October. The Winx Stakes will be Autumn Glow’s first start at seven furlongs since a win in the Group 2 Apollo Stakes at Randwick last February, which was her first start in more than three months.

The Winx is the first Group 1 stakes of the current Australian season, which began on Aug. 1. The race drew a field of 14, half of whom are fillies and mares.

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Aside from Autumn Glow, one of eight runners in the field trained by Waller, the 4-year-old filly Sheza Alibi will have support. Trained by Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman, Sheza Alibi has won 7 of 10 starts and is on a five-race winning streak that includes consecutive Group 1 races at a mile earlier this year at Randwick – the Randwick Guineas in March and the ultra-tough Doncaster Mile against 15 rivals in April. The Doncaster Mile, a handicap, annually draws a competitive field.

In the Winx Stakes, Sheza Alibi drew the inside post. She runs from off the pace, which will force jockey Luke Nolen to find a clean trip in a big field. Autumn Glow starts from post 3 and runs as a stalker.

The Winx Stakes is part of a 10-race program at Randwick. Post time is 2:30 a.m. Eastern.

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