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A pair of notable achievements fell to super colt The Autumn Sun when he won his fifth Group One race in just nine starts at Rosehill on Saturday.
The Autumn Sun’s victory in the G1 Rosehill Guineas gave him eight wins from his nine career starts that also include this season’s G1 Caulfield Guineas and G1 Randwick Guineas – the three major Guineas races for 3YOs in Australia since the latter replaced the Canterbury Guineas as part of the Sydney Triple Crown for 3YOs in 2006.
Since 1935 a number of outstanding 3YOs including Tulloch, Imagele, Spirit Of Kingston, Octagonal, Weekend Hussler and Dundeel were able to win two of the three principal Guineas races but The Autumn Sun is the first to win all three.His Randwick Guineas win also saw The Autumn Sun join Miss Finland and Lankan Rupee as the third five-time G1 winner produced by their champion sire Redoute’s Choice, himself a Caulfield Guineas winner.
They are achievements that will weigh heavily on the minds of his ownership group when they come together in the near future to resolve if the massive colt is to extend his racing career into his 4YO season.The Autumn Sun has been spelled in the wake of his courageous Rosehill Guineas win where he mastered a Heavy 8 track at his first attempt at 2000 metres amid ominous suggestions that he may be retired without racing again to cash in early on his immense stud potential.
Bred by Arrowfield and the Aga Khan’s Studs, The Autumn Sun is the second foal of the Galileo mare Azmiyna and was purchased for $700,000 by Hermitage Thoroughbreds, Chris Waller Racing and Guy Mulcaster Bloodstock at the 2017 Easter sale in Sydney.Arrowfield Stud subsequently bought back into the colt last spring and ultimately may have the final call on whether he retires or gets the opportunity to race on next season.
The Autumn Sun is the first foal to race from the unraced Galileo mare Azmiyna, a half-sister to the late European champion and sire Azamour (Night Shift).She is also a half sister to the G2 winner Arazan (Anabaa) and is a three-quarter sister to the stakes-placed Galileo’s Star.
The Autumn Sun’s third dam is the stakes winner Anaza (Darshaan), the dam of the G1 winner Astarabad (Alleged) and stakes-placed Astarak (Rainbow Quest).Azmiyna’s unnamed 2YO filly by Snitzel was purchased by Waller Racing and Guy Mulcaster for $1.3 million at last year’s Easter Yearling Sale while a three-quarter brother to The Autumn Sun by Not A Single Doubt will be offered by Arrowfield at the coming 2019 sale.
Azmiyna produced a Snitzel colt last spring. She has since been exported to Japan to be covered by Deep Impact to northern hemisphere time.Redoute’s Choice is now fourth on the Australian General Sires’ premiership for the current season with $7.6 million prizemoney with Snitzel still a big leader with $19.5 million.