$51 roughie Autumn Boy stuns $1.4m yearling Central Coast in Chris Waller quinella at Canterbury on Monday
It wasn't the result favourite backers wanted but trainer Chris Waller might have unearthed two promising colts when outsider Autumn Boy ran down boom stablemate Central Coast at Canterbury on Monday.
Central Coast, who cost $1.4m as a yearling, was all the rage and was backed into $1.65 favouritism to make a winning debut in the two-year-old opener, the Drinkwise Plate (1250m).
But another Waller-trained first-starter, $51 outsider Autumn Boy produced a powerful finish to collar Central Coast near the line.
• PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW!
James McDonald gave the superbly-bred Central Coast (Wootton Bassett-Sunlight) every possible chance but the colt could not withstand his stablemate's powerful late surge.
Waller's stable representative, Charlie Duckworth, admitted he thought Autumn Boy might find the 1250m 'too short'.
'Autumn Boy has always been a dream to deal with but he flies under the radar a bit,'' Duckworth told Sky Thoroughbred Central.
'He is bred to get over further so it is really exciting to see him win.''
Autumn Boy, ridden by Jason Collett, ambushed Central Coast late to win by nearly a short neck with Godolphin first-starter Cabriole ($3.30) nearly two lengths away third.
Central Coast shared the early lead with Cosmonaut before McDonald let that horse cross and find the fence.
McDonald then eased Central Coast off heels to be outside the leader coming to the turn where the favourite forged to the front and looked certain to score until Autumn Boy, a son of Arrowfield Stud's boom young sire The Autumn Sun, burst on the scene.
'It was his first day at 'school' and I'm sure he will take good benefit from the experience,'' Duckworth said.
'We will take a sit next time he will be much better for it.''
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
ABC News
34 minutes ago
- ABC News
Live updates: Saudi Arabia vs Socceroos, FIFA World Cup qualifier in Jeddah
The Socceroos need only to avoid a catastrophic defeat against Saudi Arabia in Jeddah to qualify automatically for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Follow all the action from the King Abdullah Sport City, Jeddah, in our live blog or listen to live radio coverage.
News.com.au
41 minutes ago
- News.com.au
Wigan star Sir Billy Boston becomes first rugby league player to receive a knighthood
'Trailblazing' rugby league star Sir Billy Boston's honour came 'a little bit late', his son said, as his father became a knight in a first for the sport. Sir Billy, who scored 478 tries in 488 matches for Wigan after making the switch from rugby union in 1953, was knighted by the King in a private ceremony at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday. The 90-year-old, who was born in Wales, revealed in 2016 that he was living with vascular dementia. Speaking after his father was knighted, Sir Billy's son Stephen said: 'It's a really great honour. I think it has come a little bit late. It could have come a little bit earlier.'
News.com.au
4 hours ago
- News.com.au
‘I'll be talking to him': Mal confirms interest in Tigers star as likely ‘top of list' Bears target revealed
Inaugural Perth coach Mal Meninga confirmed he will be 'talking' to Tigers hooker Apisai Koroisau after he said he would be 'definitely open' to playing for the Bears. FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every game of every round in the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership, LIVE with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer. Meninga was officially appointed coach of the NRL's latest expansion team last week, with the Bears to enter the competition at the start of the 2027 season. With a coach in place, attention now turns to the marquee names the Bears could sign and it sounds like Koroisau could be a target. The Tigers hooker told Channel Nine he would 'definitely be open to it', although he then added he would 'love to keep going' at his current club. 'To be fair I've never seriously thought about it, mainly because I'd love to just finish off here at the Tigers and I'm in no rush to be going anywhere or sign any contracts,' he said. 'I haven't thought about it, not seriously anyway. For me it's Tigers if I can.' While those additional comments from Koroisau may ease some concerns in Tigerland, Meninga definitely took notice of his earlier ones and told Triple M he will 'be talking' to the veteran hooker. 'He did play for North Sydney Bears you know, he came through that system so I think that's another great story,' Meninga said. 'I'll be talking to him don't worry about that.' Koroisau is off-contract at the end of 2026 and will be allowed to talk to rival clubs from November 1. The Daily Telegraph's Brent Read tipped on Triple M that Koroisau will end up being one of many players who will strategically come off-contract around then in a bid to drive up their prices with the added competition of the Bears. 'They're (player agents— going to time blokes coming off contract to maximize that value, so there'll be players out there and there are players out there who are coming off at the end of '26, who I'd imagine will go to November 1,' Read said. Read went on to add that he expects Perth to target Super League teams and South African rugby union for talent, while also predicting Titans forward Tino Fa'asuamaleaui — who is signed until 2033 but can leave the club at the end of 2026 — will be 'at the top of the list' when it comes to NRL targets. 'He's got options every year of his deal. He's an obvious one who Mal's got a relationship with... Tino is probably at the top of the list,' Read said. 'Payne is the other obvious one but I think Payne will stay in Brisbane. There's some other guys... Luke Metcalf, Jaxon Purdue, Tyran Wishart, Herbie Farnworth. There are guys out there who are available as it stands on November 1.' Wishart was one player who Michael Ennis singled out during Melbourne's recent win against North Queensland as a priority target for Meninga. 'You get the feeling over the next couple of years as the expansion teams roll into town, the value of a Tyran Wishart, it is going to skyrocket,' Ennis said. 'Pick up the phone Mal.' Former Panthers and Sharks backrower Wade Graham, meanwhile, said on Triple M that the prospect of a player loan system should be something the NRL considers to help out expansion teams. He also pointed to previous successful examples, including Harry Grant's time with the Tigers and subsequent development at Melbourne, as evidence it could benefit the other clubs too. 'Every team has their roster in order and their projected five-year plan in order. They have their backups almost ready to go, but they're in behind (the starter),' Graham said. 'Look at Melbourne. They have Papenhuyzen and Hughes. They have Fa'alogo in behind and Jonah Pezet in behind and we saw with Harry Grant when he was behind Cameron Smith, the opportunity for him to be loaned out to the Wests Tigers. 'I just think it's an area we can look at. Other guys that come to mind... Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow at the Dolphins. We know Trai Fuller's an exceptional fullback and has done well in first grade. 'I think we need to think a little bit outside the box of how we manage two new teams coming in the competition and player depth.'
