How fast was The Autumn Sun?
The Autumn Sun's brilliance put him in a class of his own in the 2018 Caulfield Guineas G1. (PHOTO: Bronwen Healy)
Speed is the wallpaper of thoroughbred breeding and racing.
It’s very easy to take for granted that speed is always there, but as any trainer or jockey will tell you, it isn’t!
Arrowfield has a deep knowledge & experience of stallions, especially those from the Danehill sire-line, that reliably transmit the precious spark of speed to their sons & daughters.
Which is why we sat up and took special notice of The Autumn Sun’s debut 2YO win over 1200 metres at Randwick in April 2018.
He drew gate 7, travelled at least three-wide and ran greenly in the straight, yet still produced three sub-11-second sectionals to nail a 1.5-length victory.
Most significantly, The Autumn Sun stopped the clock at 1:08.61. That’s the fastest time run by a 2YO at Randwick. Ever.
It’s faster than any 1200-metre race won by Redoute’s Choice sons Lankan Rupee, Snitzel, Stratum or Not A Single Doubt. Faster even than the 1999 Blue Diamond G1, won by Redoute’s Choice himself in 1:08.73.
It was clearly a portent of things to come. The Autumn Sun won his second start over 1400 metres at Randwick in 1:22.92.
Four months later his progress was evident in the time he posted to win the Golden Rose G1 from the outside barrier at Rosehill: 1:22.24.
Then came his imperious victory in the Caulfield Guineas G1, where he raced three-wide without cover, yet won with plenty in hand by 4.5 lengths, cutting out the 1600 metres in 1:35.58. That’s the third-fastest time in the 139-year history of the race, and faster than his sire’s heroic Guineas win 19 years earlier.
The Autumn Sun’s own heroic moment came at headquarters in March 2019 when he defied impossibility to make up many lengths in the straight and land the Randwick Guineas G1 in 1:33.72, equalling the race record.
Globally renowned & proven genetics.
A head-turning physique & presence.
No colt has won more Australian Group 1 races at 2 & 3 in the past quarter-century.
Perhaps the last great colt left by Danehill’s greatest sire son.
The Autumn Sun is all of this, but most of all, he’s a story of speed.
