The Autumn Sun is rising…

Lovely action.

Extremely athletic.

Great attitude.

This is what Australia’s best breakers and trainers are repeatedly saying about The Autumn Sun’s first-crop progeny, now only days away from turning two.

The 5-time Group 1 winner has already made a big splash this year in the sale-ring, with 80 yearlings sold for $23.2 million and 29 of them making $300,000 or more. His top price of $950,000 was paid at Magic Millions by Bahen Bloodstock &  Kris Lees for the Kitchwin Hills colt out of Duchess Kate (by Savabeel).

Trainer Matt Laurie joined ARJB Bloodstock and agent Andy Williams to buy Arrowfield’s Magic Millions filly out of Champagne Run (by More Than Ready) for $925,000. Laurie and Bahen Bloodstock also signed for KBL Thoroughbreds’ $525,000 The Autumn Sun filly out of Girl In Flight at the same sale.

And leading New Zealand trainers Roger James & Robert Wellwood went well beyond their usual budget to secure the stunning colt out of the More Than Ready mare Pristino for NZ$900,000 at Karaka.

That level of demand flowed on to The Autumn Sun’s second-crop filly out of Champion South African Sprinter Via Africa.  A three-quarter sister to Group 1 winner In The Congo, she was offered by Newhaven Park at Magic Millions National and bought by Silverdale Farm & Shrone Bloodstock for $600,000. That made her the third top-priced weanling sold in Australia this year.

But the spotlight is squarely on The Autumn Sun’s rising 2YOs, now completing their education & learning their trade with Australasia’s most respected breakers and most accomplished trainers. Here’s what some of those people are saying about The Autumn Suns:

NZ$900,000 colt ex Pristino (by More Than Ready)
“He’s an absolute dude, he’s fitted in here very easily and he’s got a lovely attitude. He’s a very balanced mover as he was at the sales, extremely athletic and he’s just done everything so easily and so naturally.”
– Roger James, co-trainer

$750,000 colt ex Axiomatic (by O’Reilly)
“These are the horses you always want to ride, he’s really athletic and he’s got such a cool temperament, he’s so natural at everything…really soft to the ride and really flashy and fluid in his action…he’s just impressed us from day one.”
– Daniel Robinson, DPR Breaking for John O’Shea

$550,000 filly ex Talimena (by Lonhro)
“She’s taken to everything very well, she’s very straightforward and athletic. Nothing fazes her, she’s very independent and Gary is impressed with how she’s developing during her break. She’ll return to the stable in the Spring and will make an Autumn 2YO.”
– John Benner & Hollie Wynyard for owner Gary Harding 

$475,000 colt ex Bollywood (by Rulership) 
“Not only has he shown the breakers enormous potential and such versatility and so precocious…He’s got great presence about himself, and the way he stands and the way he moves, and most importantly, he’s in the yard now. All my Golden Slipper horses, every single one of them, has been in training before June.”
– Gai Waterhouse AO, co-trainer

$400,000 colt ex Progressive (by Street Cry)
“He’s a lovely big strong colt, doing everything really well, great attitude, really pleased with how he’s going.” 
– Shane Rose, for Hermitage Thoroughbreds & Chris Waller

$400,000 colt ex Solar Girl (by Lonhro)
“Our breaker Grant Bobbin has been really taken by him, he’s precocious
& short-coupled and I wouldn’t be surprised if he ran before Christmas.”
– Rayan Moore, Racing Manager, McEvoy Mitchell Racing

Other leading trainers preparing The Autumn Sun’s progeny include Tony Gollan, Peter & Paul Snowden, Chris Waller, Peter Moody, Will Clarken, Robbie Griffiths & Matthew Kock, Mick Price  & Michael Kent Jnr, Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young, Troy Corstens, John O’Shea, Annabel Neasham , Kris Lees and Michael Freedman.

Arrowfield Sales Manager Sally Gordon says, “Breeder support in a stallion’s first season, backed by buyers’ support for his first yearlings builds the critical platform for success. The Autumn Sun has received outstanding industry support, so it’s really encouraging to hear such positive feedback from so many major stables about his rising two-year-olds.”