A Glowing day for Arrowfield sires

Summer racing in Sydney ended on a high for Arrowfield with three Royal Randwick Group victories added to the records of The Autumn Sun, Castelvecchio & Snitzel. 

The Autumn Sun’s superlative daughter Autumn Glow posted her first Group 1 victory under weight-for-age conditions, in the $1 million ATC Verry Elleegant S. 1600m G1, with Aeliana (by Castelvecchio) an impressive runner-up and Sir Delius 3.8 lengths away, third.

Autumn Glow’s jockey James McDonald said, “Her demeanour, her presence, she knows she’s so good….She just breathes so well and so push-button. She’s got an incredible turn of foot.”

That acceleration was evident despite the Soft5 track and the 1:35.55 overall time: Autumn Glow ran her final 600 metres in 33:05, the fastest time of the day.

“She’s the Perfect 10” – Sydney racecaller @hkdarren sums it up perfectly as Autumn Glow remains unbeaten after running away with the Group 1 @tabcomau Verry Elleegant Stakes 🔥

Aeliana is gallant again and gives @cwallerracing the quinella while Sir Delius winds up third pic.twitter.com/IlH3T5ToNX

— Australian Turf Club (@aus_turf_club) February 28, 2026

Chris Waller, trainer of both Autumn Glow & Aeliana, said, “It’s getting to that stage now where it’s a relief when she wins.

“She was made to work today but she was second-up at the mile and I think there is still a bit of improvement to come which we will need in the next few runs. She is a star.”

Autumn Glow has won all 10 of her starts, 7 of them at Group level including the Epsom H. G1, plus the Golden Eagle last Spring, and her prizemoney now exceeds $8 million. All going well, her next appearance will be in the $1 million George Ryder S. G1, with Aeliana heading to the $1 million Ranvet S. G1, both at Rosehill on Golden Slipper day, 21 March.

Bred by Newhaven Park Stud from South African Champion Sprinter Via Africa (by Var) and pinhooked from Magic Millions into the Inglis Easter Sale by Silverdale Farm, Autumn Glow is raced by Arrowfield & Hermitage Thoroughbreds who purchased her for $1.8 million as a yearling. 

Castelvecchio had already chimed in with the success of his 4YO daughter Verona Rose in the $300,000 ATC Guy Walter S. 1400m G2, defeating Manaal & Arctic Glamour.

Winning jockey Craig Williams summed up the final stages of the race, “She came out, she lengthened, and I thought, ‘well, she’s still going really well and lengthening,’ but the last little bit she really put in an acceleration and put it away.”

Verona Rose shifts into gear and wins the Guy Walter Stakes! 👏@CWilliamsJockey @GaryPortelli pic.twitter.com/KGByoKwwsw

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) February 28, 2026

Trainer Gary Portelli, who purchased Verona Rose (ex Minamya by Makfi) for $40,000 from Arrowfield at the Inglis Classic Sale, confirmed that the mare’s next target is the $1 million Coolmore Classic G1 at Rosehill on 14 March.

One of 6 stakeswinners from Castelvecchio’s first crop, Verona Rose featured in Arrowfield’s Inglis Classic 2026 marketing campaign after winning last year’s Kembla Grange Classic G3 & the Inglis Bracelet at Flemington on Oaks Day. She has now earned more than $700,000 for her large group of owners.

Champion sire Snitzel posted his 12th individual stakeswinner this season when his 2YO son Campione D’italia (ex Medaglia Valore by Medaglia D’Oro) edged out stablemate Central Europe in the $300,000 ATC Skyline S. 1200m G2, with Star Of Jamaica third.

A Group 2 victory at only his second start indicates this is a colt with a big future, but he is still learning his craft, as Chris Waller explained.

“He’s always shown promise, and hence the reason why we’ve thrown him in the deep-end.

“He’s a kind horse, but he’s just so competitive. So when those barriers open, he wants to get to the bend first and we’ve got to teach him to get to the winning post first. We’re getting there.”

Campione D’Italia causes a boilover in the Catanach’s Jewellers Skyline Stakes at $41 @tabcomau 🤯🤯@cwallerracing @TommyBerry21 pic.twitter.com/bCRr2BYADg

— Australian Turf Club (@aus_turf_club) February 28, 2026

Bred by Gerry Harvey, Campione D’italia was a $500,000 Magic Millions Gold Coast purchase for China Horse Club, Newgate Bloodstock & partners. He traces to the influential broodmare Summoned, whose 40 stakes-winning descendants include Group 1 winners Zeditave, Greys Inn, Melito (by Redoute’s Choice), Norzita & Smart Call, and Campione D’italia’s brilliant Group-winning grand-dam Military Rose. 

Snitzel’s champion son Trapeze Artist underlined the prospects of Snitzel colts with two new stakeswinners on the day: The Crimson Pirate in Perth, and Spicy Miss, winner of the Sweet Embrace S. G2 at Randwick. 

Snitzel’s career record grows to 168 stakeswinners (65 at two) and he remains atop the current Australian General Sires’ Premiership with $15.1 million prizemoney.  The Autumn Sun holds the No. 2 spot with earnings of $13 million.