The Autumn Sun shines on Arrowfield

Golden Slipper day 2026 will be remembered as one of Sydney’s – and Arrowfield’s – most spectacular days at the track.

It will go down in Australian turf history as the day supernaturally gifted Champion jockey James McDonald worked with the powerhouse stable of Champion trainer Chris Waller and the progeny of two brilliant young Arrowfield sires to equal, then exceed Damien Oliver’s Group 1 riding record, setting a new mark of 131.

James McDonald does it! He’s now level with Damien Oliver on 129 wins! 🥇

Aeliana brings up the milestone with a G1 Ranvet victory, and the @cwallerracing /@mcacajamez partnership now also equals the great TJ Smith / George Moore combination. @StarTbreds @aus_turf_club pic.twitter.com/mdDTSY6w8S

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 21, 2026

He did it with three consecutive Group 1 victories, firstly aboard Star Thoroughbreds’ heroic mare Aeliana (by Castelvecchio) in the $1 million Ranvet S. 2000m G1, and then Ritchies Racing’s colt Autumn Boy (by The Autumn Sun), who decisively added the $750,000 Rosehill Guineas 2000m G1 to his Caulfield Guineas G1 win last Spring. 

JAMES MCDONALD STANDS ALONE. 130 GROUP ONES 👑

J-Mac takes the Group 1 record with a trademark ride on Autumn Boy to win the Rosehill Guineas! It’s history at Rosehill 🏆@mcacajamez @cwallerracing pic.twitter.com/Npg4vwEwKY

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) March 21, 2026

Then McDonald joined Arrowfield & Hermitage Thoroughbreds’ superstar mare Autumn Glow (also by The Autumn Sun) to defeat 7 Group 1 winners by almost 3 lengths in the $1 million George Ryder S. 1500m G1, the third Group 1 victory of her 11-win, $8.1 million career.

Owning greatness! 📜🔥

James McDonald can’t be stopped – a G1 treble as Autumn Glow is unbeaten and BRILLIANT in the G1 George Ryder, as the @cwallerracing /@mcacajamez partnership continues to build a legacy. 🤩@aus_turf_club @ArrowfieldStud pic.twitter.com/di5ANKVFQk

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 21, 2026

But Arrowfield stallions weren’t quite finished with the day.

Four-time Champion Sire, and current Premiership leader Snitzel had already added a new stakeswinner at Rosehill when 3YO gelding Beskar (ex Sword Of Light by New Approach) took out the $200,000 Darby Munro S. 1200m LR for Jonathan Munz and Anthony & Sam Freedman. Beskar was a $600,000 Inglis Easter buy for Dean Hawthorne from the draft of co-breeder Widden Stud. 

And in New Zealand, Snitzel’s Arrowfield graduate 3YO daughter Origin Of Love gave her half-sister at Inglis Easter  a perfectly timed update with an all-the-way win for Te Akau Racing in the NZ$250,000 Wellington Guineas 1600m G2.

Back at Rosehill, Emirates Park’s home-bred filly Marhoona, also from Snitzel’s 2022 crop, emulated Hall of Famer Luskin Star by adding the $1 million Galaxy 1100m G1 to her 2025 Golden Slipper G1 win, with Maurice’s marvellous multi-millionaire son Mazu a fighting third. Trained by Michael Freedman and ridden by Kerrin McEvoy, Marhoona has now earned $3.9 million in her 4-win, 8-start career.

Slipper one year, Galaxy the next 💚🤍

How about that finish! Marhoona wins a thrilling G1 Galaxy 👏@KPMcEvoy @mfreedmanracing pic.twitter.com/F53GGRxfEn

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) March 21, 2026

A few minutes later at Ascot in Western Australia, 2YO filly Aurum Belle (ex Dame Giselle by I Am Invincible) became Snitzel’s 170th career stakeswinner, and his 15th SW this season with a two-length victory in the $125,000 Supremacy S. 1000m LR. It’s her second win in two starts for Ridgeport & Yarradale Stud and trainer Neville Parnham who purchased her for $725,000 from The Chase at Inglis Easter 2025. 

That made 7 black type successes for Arrowfield stallions in around four hours, including 4 of the 5 Group 1 features at Rosehill Gardens.

We are indeed blessed by exceptional people and extraordinary horses.