Stakes double for Arrowfield stallions

We’re thirty-five days into the new season and the Arrowfield roster has already notched up four black type victories, by Autumn Glow (by The Autumn Sun), Cosmic Crusader (by Maurice) and Friday’s Wyong feature double by Arrowfield graduates Modella (by Castelvecchio) & Matusalem (by The Autumn Sun).

Well-backed favourite Modella, expertly piloted by Zac Lloyd, landed the $250,000 Mona Lisa S. 1350m LR to become Castelvecchio’s 7th stakeswinner, and contribute to the excellent record of Frank & Christine Cook who race her with a group owners including her breeders Katsumi Yoshida & Arrowfield. 

MODELLA is SW7 for Castelvecchio in the Mona Lisa Stakes

Dam 1/2 to Gr3 Ms Catherine

Granddam Gr3 Lucky Diva

5×4 Fairy Bridge through Sadler’s Wells/Perugino@CurtisRacing @ZacLloydx @mmsnippets @ArrowfieldStud pic.twitter.com/cRef8L2KNz

— Pedigree Update (@pedigreeupdate) September 4, 2026

Cherie Curtis, who trains the mare with husband Lee said, “She is just all quality, it sets us up perfectly for our spring. Zac is such a good jockey isn’t he. I had full trust in him to do that. I said to him before the race, just do her and look after her. It was awesome.”

Modella is the second foal of Ms Rodarte (by I Am Invincible), a city-winning daughter of Group winner Lucky Diva, and was a $200,000 buy for Curtis Racing from Arrowfield at Magic Millions Gold Coast.

Ms Rodarte has a 2YO filly named Klynina (by Hitotsu) in training with Richard & Chantelle Jolly, a yearling full sister to Modella and is foaling to Maurice this Spring.

Matusalem booked a spot in November’s $3 million Big Dance with his second Listed success, and 7th career win in the $250,000 Wyong Cup 2100m LR, driven hard late by James McDonald to defeat Anythink Goes and Dundeel’s Group-winning son Elliptical. 

Matusalem does it to ’em and wins the Wyong Cup with James McDonald on board! 🟣🔴

Chris Waller wins his 10th Wyong Cup and the gelding is off to the Big Dance. pic.twitter.com/DPeFTkwWGt

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) September 4, 2026

That’s the second stakes win since 1 August for The Autumn Sun, following Autumn Glow’s magnificent Winx S. G1 victory – both horses prepared by champion trainer Chris Waller.

Matusalem is the third stakeswinner left by Arrowfield’s marvellous, now-retired matron Miss Dodwell (by Falbrav), after dual Group 1 winner Kenedna (by Not A Single Doubt) and multiple Group winner Spill The Beans (by Snitzel). A $500,000 Magic Millions purchase by Chris Waller & Mulcaster Bloodstock, with Arrowfield retaining a share of him, Matusalem has now taken his earnings close to $1 million. 

Miss Dodwell’s final two foals are full sisters to Matusalem: 3YO Esteemed is in training with the Waller team and Witter is due to foal to Vandeek this Spring.

It’s very early days on the 2026/27 Australian General Sires’ Premiership, but already The Autumn Sun (3rd), Snitzel (7th), Dundeel (11th) & Maurice (12th; and a top 10 sire in Japan) are among the top 15 sires by earnings.

Along with Castelvecchio, who has Group 1 winners Aeliana & El Castello in play, they have plenty of proven stars targeting major Spring prizes, as well as emerging talent, including recent 3YO winners Come Together & Mystical Realm (by Maurice), Autumn In Grinzing (by The Autumn Sun) and Sing Your Song & Tenenbaum (by Snitzel).