Waller aiming for Verry Elleegant dozen record
Champion trainer aims for 12th win in race named after his 2021 Melbourne Cup winner
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The undefeated Autumn Glow (James McDonald) bringing her impeccable record to nine from nine in the Group 2 Apollo Stakes (1,400m) at Randwick on Feb 14. The three-year-old daughter of The Autumn Sun will look to extend her haul to 10 straight wins in the Group 1 Verry Elleegant Stakes (1,600m) at Randwick on Feb 28.
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SYDNEY - Autumn Glow, racing’s “Miss Invincible”, spearheads champion trainer Chris Waller’s attempt at a record-extending 12th win in the A$1 million (S$896,000) Group 1 Verry Elleegant Stakes (1,600m) at Royal Randwick on Feb 28.
Waller confirmed he will have multiple runners in the big race, including his Group 2 Apollo Stakes (1,400m) trifecta of Autumn Glow, Aeliana and Lindermann on Feb 14, along with some other top-class stablemates like highly-rated import Trinity College.
Since 2011, the Hall of Fame trainer has dominated the Verry Elleegant Stakes (formerly Chipping Norton Stakes, and now named after Waller’s 2021 Melbourne Cup winner), winning the weight-for-age race a remarkable 11 times including a four-peat from the great Winx 2016-19.
The unbeaten Autumn Glow is chasing her 10th win and is already at “Winx-like” odds of 3-10 in early betting.
She was in imperious form first-up when romping away with the Apollo by nearly three lengths and Waller said that the best of the super mare is yet to be seen.
“I don’t know where her ceiling is and that is exciting,” said Waller.
“We keep referring to Winx and we didn’t expect her to keep going (33 wins in a row including her world record 25 at Group 1 level).
“We are taking it one race at a time because racing can level you very quicky.”
Waller said Autumn Glow and Aeliana have trained on well since the Apollo Stakes.
“They had three days off at the farm after that race,” he said. “Aeliana went to Wild Oaks and Autumn Glow was just up the road at Hermitage.
“It’s a good way to de-stress them and then get them back to the stable quickly and back into their normal routine.”
Winner of the Group 1 ATC Australian Derby (2,400m) in 2025, Aeliana ran on very well to finish within three lengths of Autumn Glow in the Apollo and will enjoy getting out to 1,600m on Feb 28.
“For Aeliana to be able to fight it out with one of the country’s best sprinter-milers in Autumn Glow was pretty encouraging,” said Waller.
“She has come back well, she is more mature and has held onto her weight this preparation.”
Waller said Lindermann will “definitely be there” for the Verry Elleegant Stakes while Trinity College, a Group 1 placegetter in France and winner of the Group 3 Hampton Court Stakes (2,004m) at Royal Ascot in 2025, is set to make his Australian debut.
The Dubawi five-year-old entire has already been earmarked as Via Sistina’s successor in the Group 1 races.
“Trinity College is an exciting European horse,” said Waller.
“We could have run him first-up at 1,400m but decided to keep him for the mile (Verry Elleegant Stakes) and then he will go to the Ranvet (Stakes, over 2,000m on March 21) after that.”
The other Group 1 on Verry Elleegant Stakes day will be no less exciting, the A$750,000 Surround Stakes (1,400m) for 3YO fillies.
Godolphin’s Tempted will draw the most admirers following her Group 3 Eskimo Prince Stakes (1,200m) win on Feb 7, but trainer Peter Moody is optimistic about Ole Dancer’s prospects.
The daughter of Ole Kirk will chase a second Group 1 win in the 1,400m event at Randwick, having won the Thousand Guineas (1,600m) last spring.
Tempted was beaten as a short-priced favourite in the 2025 Group 1 Golden Rose (1,400m) in Rosehill at her only start beyond 1,200m.
Moody is confident that a good barrier would give Ole Dancer her chance after the benefit of a first-up run at 1,400m, when second in the Listed Desirable Stakes (1,400m) at Flemington on Feb 14.
“The good thing about my girl is she’s going to be strong at the end of 1,400, isn’t she?” said Moody. “I just hope we draw a barrier, that’s the main thing.
“The other day we had to go back from seven, you don’t want to have to go back from 10 or 12 and give it (Tempted) a start. I’d rather be three in front of it on the turn than three behind it.”
Ole Dancer is yet to race the Sydney way of going, but impressed Moody, who trains in partnership with Katherine Coleman, with a clockwise track gallop at Pakenham on Feb 21 morning.
Zac Lloyd will take the reins in the Surround Stakes, replacing the suspended Luke Nolen.
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