Chris Waller mare Autumn Glow sparks interest for The Everest as stars trial for spring campaign at Randwick and Gosford
Chris Waller's unbeaten mare Autumn Glow was eased back to last early in her 850m heat before being taken wide on the turn by jockey James McDonald where she ran on strongly without being put under any pressure for a close third to Just Feelin' Lucky.
Autumn Glow, winner of her four starts, is at the top of early TAB betting at $3.20 for the Group 1 $1.5m TAB Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Royal Randwick on October 4.
But part-owner John Messara revealed he has had interest from slot-holders to set his brilliant mare for the $20m The TAB Everest (1200m) at Royal Randwick on October 18.
She is currently rated at $15 in early Everest betting behind Hong Kong superstar Ka Ying Rising at $1.80.
'It's an open question which races Autumn Glow will be aimed at this spring carnival,'' Messara said.
'We have had approaches from some Everest slot-holders but it's all conjecture at the moment.
'She will resume racing at Randwick on August 23 in either the Show County Quality (1200m) or the Toy Show Quality (1100m) and we want to see how she goes that day before deciding on her program.
'Chris's preference is the Epsom Handicap but it will depend on what she does first-up. If she shows us she is sprinting really well then obviously we will have a look at the Everest.''
JUST FEELIN' LUCKY prevails in Trial 3 at Randwick, another with some serious star power this morning.
🥈 - BELLAZAINE
🥉 - AUTUMN GLOW
LINEBACKER also doing his best work late ðŸ'€ pic.twitter.com/2NBFR0Kl6s
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) August 7, 2025
Autumn Glow was just one of a galaxy of equine stars competing in barrier trials at Randwick and Gosford on Thursday morning.
It was a case of where to look as some of the best horses in training contested crucial trials within minutes of each other.
Waller's champion mare Via Sistina and her outstanding stablemate Fangirl were the headline acts in the opening Randwick heat over 1000m, finishing second and fourth respectively behind Vauban.
The first on a stacked morning of Trials at Randwick goes the way of VAUBAN, with VIA SISTINA finishing off her work nicely down the outside. FANGIRL also doing her best work late ðŸ'€ pic.twitter.com/LDQ7M5LAbU
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) August 7, 2025
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Vauban, the former Irish stayer who seems reinvigorated since joining the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable, got his Melbourne Cup campaign off to an impressive start winning the heat by a short neck from Via Sistina with another Waller runner, New Zealand Derby placegetter Golden Century looking sharp finishing a half length away third.
Horse of the Year-elect Via Sistina was kept deliberately wide in her trial before moving into the contest under a hold from McDonald to finish an eye-catching second.
MANAAL looking super impressive taking out Trial 4 at Randwick this morning.
WODETON, CLEAN ENERGY & STEFI MAGNETICA all finishing together behind the winner ðŸ'€ pic.twitter.com/z76gOVwODj
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) August 7, 2025
Fangirl, Waller's $10m earner, was in Via Sistina's slipstream for most of the trial and also closed nicely late to finish fourth, beaten just over two lengths.
Via Sistina and Fangirl are set to resume in the first Group 1 race of the new season, the $1m Winx Stakes (1400m) at Royal Randwick on August 23.
In early TAB betting, Via Sistina is the $2.80 favourite to go back-to-back in the Winx Stakes while Fangirl, the 2023 winner, is at $4.
PALMETTO with a strong showing in Trial 2 at Randwick this morning with some eye catchers behind
🥈 - PERICLES
🥉 - LADY SHENANDOAH
AELIANA and ZARDOZI behind the placings ðŸ'€ pic.twitter.com/DdePuYecaa
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) August 7, 2025
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In the next 1000m course proper heat, the Waller-trained duo of Lady Shenandoah (third) and Aeliana (fourth) continued their build-up to the Winx Stakes with pleasing trials behind Palmetto.
Linebacker was desperate to go faster when fourth in Just Feelin' Lucky's trial while heat 4 over 850m was a competitive trial won by Manaal from Wodeton, Clean Energy and Stefi Magnetica in a tight finish where less than a length separated the first four placegetters.
Trainer Ciaron Maher scratched his four Group 1 winners, Jimmysstar, Gringotts, Another Wil and Light Infantry Man from the Randwick trials and ran them at Gosford instead.
Plenty of interest in Trial 6 at Gosford this morning!
â�ï¸�JIMMYSSTAR â�ï¸� @tabcomau 's slot runner for this year's TAB Everest, has kicked off his campaign with a strong showing, hitting the line well out wide to finish 3rd ðŸ'€ @cmaherracing pic.twitter.com/V0keJ2lRPW
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) August 7, 2025
The Everest hopeful Jimmysstar, ridden by Louise Day, looked in cruise control finishing two lengths away in third place behind King's Duty over 800m.
Leading Melbourne jockey Jamie Melham made the trip to Gosford to partner Gringotts to an impressive 1000m heat win, and she was also in the saddle when Another Wil ran a close second to Mogul Monarch, and for Light Infantry Man's third to promising three-year-old Hidden Motive.
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