Classic preview double for The Autumn Sun 3YOs
Can VRC Oaks Preview winner After Summer become The Autumn Sun's third Oaks winner, after Autumn Angel & Vibrant Sun? (PHOTO: Darryl Sherer)
A pair of promising 3YOs by The Autumn Sun took their first big steps on the road to the great Flemington Classics by winning Sunday’s 1800-metre Oaks & Derby Previews with the valuable bonuses of ballot exemption.
Arrowfield graduate After Summer took up the lead in the slowly run Oaks Preview, was well-rated by Billy Egan and then out-sprinted her rivals to score by 1.5 lengths from Seychelles & Classic Gem, with favourite There Were Roses 4th.
After Summer’s trainer Dominic Sutton said, “She got a very soft time in front and when he asked for her at the top of the straight, she never looked like getting beaten. She’s an out-and-out staying filly and it was nice go and see her do that.”
He added, “We’ll get her home and plot a path, and if she takes us there (VRC Oaks), then great. If not, then we’ll put her away and save it for Autumn.”
Flemington Oaks Preview | After Summer
After Summer leads all the way for @TheBeeegan and Dominic Sutton 👏
📺 Ch. 78/68, Foxtel 529, Kayo or via our app
REPLAYS: https://t.co/ZIa4a02wC0 pic.twitter.com/MwtfSs4GRp— Racing.com (@Racing) September 21, 2025
After Summer was a $170,000 purchase by Sutton Racing & Byron Rogers from Arrowfield’s Inglis Easter 2024 draft and maintains the perfect winners-to-runners record of her dam Al Jasrah (by Shirocco), a half-sister to the dam of multiple Group 1 winner Hartnell. Al Jasrah has a yearling filly by Hitotsu and foals to Admire Mars this Spring.
Autumn Mystery delivered on the promise he’d shown in four 2YO starts, and two runner-up finishes this Spring, by unwinding a long run from the rear of the field to land the Derby Preview from Engine Of War and race favourite Options.
Trainer Rory Hunter, celebrating his first metropolitan success, said, “What a stage to do it on. It’s been an incredible journey with this horse; we’ve always believed in him and it’s just great for it to come off.”
The $2 million Victoria Derby G1 on 1 November begins to firm up as Autumn Mystery’s major Spring target.
“That would be the ultimate dream, but we’ll just see how he pulls up in the next few days. I think he’s got a very big future, but I’d say we’d be heading that way at this stage.”
Flemington Victoria Derby Preview | Autumn Mystery@blake_shinn nails another photo finish, this time aboard Autumn Mystery for Rory Hunter 👏
📺 Ch. 78/68, Foxtel 529, Kayo or via our app
REPLAYS: https://t.co/ZIa4a02wC0 pic.twitter.com/09xnZCJlDz— Racing.com (@Racing) September 21, 2025
Autumn Mystery was a $15,000 buy for Nick & Denise Thompson from the Inglis Premier draft of his breeder Gilgai Farm. He is the third winner from three runners so far left by Group-placed 2YO winner Stop Making Sense (by Sebring), from the Waikato Stud family of Champion Sprinter I Wish I Win & Group 1 winner Savy Yong Blonk.
With early season earnings of $1.1 million and 16 winners headed by star mare Autumn Glow, The Autumn Sun is already among the top 20 Australian sires and well-armed to play a major role during the Sydney & Melbourne Spring Carnivals.
