Autumn Mystery wins G3 Caulfield Classic
Autumn Mystery and Blake Shinn take out the Caulfield Classic G3 on Cup day at Caulfield. (PHOTO: Bronwen Healy)
It’s been a fabulous October so far for The Autumn Sun and 3YO gelding Autumn Mystery maintained the momentum when he found a gap in the nick of time and raced clear to win the $240,000 MRC Caulfield Classic 2000m G3.
He was chased home by Maurice’s sons Miewa & Amazake and Dundeel’s son Deal Done Fast to complete an Arrowfield-sired first four and give all three stallions the prospect of strong representation in the $2 million Victoria Derby G1 on 1 November.
Autumn Mystery is the 10th stakeswinner for The Autumn Sun and his third Group winner in 3 weeks after Autumn Glow (Epsom H. G1 on 4 October) and Autumn Boy (Caulfield Guineas G1 on 11 October).
The Autumn Sun’s Arrowfield graduate daughter After Summer finished a solid third behind Spicy Lu & Just A Journey in the MRC Ethereal S. G3, straight after the Caulfield Classic, and is now quoted as an $11 chance in the VRC Oaks G1 on 6 November.
The champion son of Redoute’s Choice also notched up a significant sale result this week when Ohukia Lodge’s colt from Hole in Ten sold for $575,000 to Gai Waterhouse Racing at the Inglis Ready2Race Sale.
Autumn Mystery wins a thrilling Norman Robinson!
Rory Hunter has a G3 winner and a live Derby hope ❤️@blake_shinn pic.twitter.com/5S5xA4Vvru
— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) October 18, 2025
Immediately after the Caulfield Classic, Autumn Mystery’s jockey Blake Shinn said, “Bring on the Derby”, while young Mornington trainer Rory Hunter enjoyed the biggest moment of his career so far.
“It’s massive. This horse is a star. He’s still six months away from being the best of him. It’s just incredible. These moments don’t come along very often, and to be here and to share with my family and such a loyal bunch of owners and the staff around us, it’s just amazing.”
Bred & sold by Gilgai Farm, Autumn Mystery is the fourth foal of Stop Making Sense (by Sebring), a winner and Group-placed at two, and like Group 1 winner I Wish I Win and eight other stakeswinners, he descends from Waikato Stud’s Group-winning mare Starcent.
Purchased by his owners Nick & Denise Thompson for $15,000 at Inglis Premier, Autumn Mystery has now earned $259,000 from two wins and four placings. He was also a sound ninth in last season’s Blue Diamond G1, just behind Tempted (now a dual Group 2 winner and 2nd in Saturday’s The Everest G1) and My Gladiola (a Listed winner & Group 2-placed this season).
After a Premiership-shaking day of major racing in Melbourne & Sydney, The Autumn Sun holds 4th spot among Australia’s leading sires, with $4.5 million prizemoney earned by just 91 runners.
