The Autumn Sun shines all season long

The Autumn Sun easily passed the first test of a young sire by leaving three Group 1 Classic winners in his first crop, but could he maintain or surpass that standard with subsequent crops?

His answer was emphatically delivered by two undisputed stars of the 2025/26 Australian season: sensational mare Autumn Glow from his second crop and dual Group 1 Guineas-winning colt Autumn Boy from his third crop, both of them prepared by The Autumn Sun’s own champion trainer Chris Waller. Their combined $11.9 million prizemoney under-pinned his first top 3 finish on the Australian General Sires’ Premiership, behind Champion Sires Snitzel & Zoustar.

Autumn Glow ended the season with the same 128 Australian Timeform figure as Ka Ying Rising, and 7 wins from 1100m to 1600m, all at Group level, beginning in the Spring with sprinting success in the Toy Show Quality G3 & Theo Marks S. G2. She then stepped up to 1600m and won the Epsom H. G1 in 1:33.14, the third-fastest time for the race this century.

A month later she returned to Randwick and over 1500m on a testing Soft7 track she proved too strong for a high-class group of rivals in the $10 million Golden Eagle. 

“She’s just got an amazing sustained speed, it’s quite incredible what we’re witnessing. She’s the jockey’s dream – you get nervous on horses, certain horses throughout your life, and she’s one you don’t.”
– James McDonald on Autumn Glow after winning the 2026 George Ryder S. G1 

After a Summer break, Autumn Glow resumed in February, defeating Aeliana & Lindermann in the 1400-metre Apollo S. G2. Three Group 1 tests followed, first the Verry Elleegant Stakes where her 33.05-second final 600 metres left Sir Delius 3.8 lengths behind her.

Three weeks later on an unforgettable Golden Slipper day at Rosehill, Autumn Glow anchored an Arrowfield-Chris Waller-James McDonald Group 1 treble to defeat 7 Group 1 winners by almost 3 lengths in the George Ryder S. G1 – the race named for the man whose treasured silks she carries. As at 2 August she remains the year’s highest-rated Australian horse on the TRC Global Rankings.

Autumn Boy progressed swiftly from his late 2YO debut and Listed success – defeating Sheza Alibi – to emulate his sire & grandsire with victory in the Caulfield Guineas G1. That gave The Autumn Sun 5 individual Australian Group 1 winners from his first 196 runners – a feat surpassed only by Redoute’s Choice & Danehill among this century’s 12 Champion Sires of Australia.

 “We’re proud of all the horses that come through the stable. But when we’ve got champions like The Autumn Sun and we’ve got his sons and daughters, it’s pretty special. Last week, Autumn Glow, now it’s a super colt with Autumn Boy; it’s pretty special.”
– Chris Waller after Autumn Boy’s 2025 Caulfield Guineas G1 victory

Autumn Boy took his CV to another level in the Autumn, displaying a superior turn of foot to defeat Group 1 winners Green Spaces and Observer by two lengths in the Rosehill Guineas, between Group 1 runner-up finishes behind Sheza Alibi in the Randwick Guineas & Doncaster Mile. Like Autumn Glow, he is among the 2025/26 Australian Horse the Year award finalists, and he remains in training, with major prizes on his radar in 2026/27.

There was plenty of depth to The Autumn Sun’s season record too, thanks to Group-winning 3YOs Autumn Break & Autumn Mystery, Listed winner Private Legacy and multiple Group 1 performer After Summer, 3rd in the VRC Oaks G1 before two very close placings in the Vinery Stud S. G1 & Australian Oaks G1.

Group-placed Plymouth, Surfin’ Bird & Snow In May (sold for $1.05 million as a broodmare), three other stakes performers and city winners including Automne Tree, Autumn Dream, Autumn Lover, Autumn Slide, Changing Colours, Horizons, Livalittle, Seafall, Slinky & Sneaky Sunrise all made valuable contributions to The Autumn Sun’s $18.8 million Australian prizemoney.

Further progress at three was promised by all his 2YO winners: stakes-placed filly The Autumn Affair, Flemington winner Autumn Charm, debut winners Isn’t She Autumn, Satomi & Sunbliss, as well as city-placed colt The Roaring Sun.

The Autumn Sun also enjoyed success in Hong Kong where six of his 9 runners won, headed by Sky Jewellery (John Size) and Call Me Magnifique (Danny Shum). His team there has been bolstered by a talented pair of 4YOs that won in Australia as Autumn King (now in the Frankie Lor stable) & Stormy Seas (with Brett Crawford).

Major yearling sale results reflected The Autumn Sun’s growing status among Australia’s leading sires, with 23 lots sold at Magic Millions Gold Coast, Karaka 1 & Inglis Easter averaging more than 5 times his 2023 fee, and a top price of $650,000 paid for the filly ex Pacific Dragon. 

The support by Arrowfield and its various breeding partnerships for The Autumn Sun has never wavered and his 2026 book features some of the Stud’s, and Australia’s very best mares, including: