The Autumn Sun set for rest, not Winx clash
KEY owners in The Autumn Sun, John Messara and Oliver Koolman, both poured cold water on the likelihood of a clash with superstar stablemate Winx in the Cox Plate.
Racing fans were drooling with the prospect of the Chris Waller superstars going headto-head at The Valley after The Autumn Sun’s ridiculously easy win in the Caulfield Guineas on Saturday. But Koolman said The Autumn Sun would almost certainly be spelled for the autumn.
Arrowfield Stud’s director John Messara, who purchased a 50 per cent share in the colt last week, has indicated a final decision won’t be made until this morning.
Messara said he didn’t want to “shoot Bambi” by taking on Winx in the Cox Plate.
Speaking on RSN’s Talking Horses, Koolman said The Autumn Sun’s trainer Chris Waller always looked after the best interests of the horse, and he was likely to be spelled.
“I don’t believe, personally, he will run. Part of the reason we sent him to Chris Waller was that he doesn’t put pressure on young horses,” Koolman said. “If he ran in a Cox Plate it could bust him. The way he trains he (Waller) nurses them for longevity.
“In our minds it would nice but to be honest we’ve talked more about travelling the horse rather than the Cox Plate. He’ll probably come home and get ready for the autumn, but it’s up to Chris.”
Koolman said throughout Winx’s career, Waller had always done the right thing by her and he expected the same for The Autumn Sun.
“After she won the Queen Elizabeth last year, she came back to our property to spell and Chris could have run her in the Doncaster but he elected to look after her.
“He believes if you look after your horse you’ll get a lot more from them during their career.
“That’s why they keep coming back year after year. Chris doesn’t empty out his horses when they’re young which is why we sent The Autumn Sun to him in the first place.”