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Chris Waller‘s boom mare Autumn Glow puts her undefeated record on the line when resuming at Randwick on Saturday as the odds-on elect in a star-studded Apollo Stakes 2026 field in Sydney.
While Group 1 racing for the year returns further safe with the sprinters facing off at HQ in the Black Caviar Lightning, we’ve got plenty of ace horses also getting their autumn underway across a stacked Royal Randwick card in NSW.
The meeting’s feature race is the Group 2 $300,000 Apollo Stakes (1400m), a race dominated by Waller-trained runners in recent history.
The master horseman has prepared seven Apollo Stakes winners including back-to-back wins by Fangirl (2024-25), and he is well represented again on Saturday saddling up six of the 10 final acceptors.
Heading the Apollo Stakes betting markets at $1.60 through Ladbrokes.com.au is four-year-old The Autumn Sun mare Autumn Glow who comes in with a flawless eight-from-eight career record.
She went to another level in the spring posting her sole Group 1 win to date in the Epsom Handicap over the Randwick mile before capping off her latest prep with an effortless $10 million Golden Eagle win over Sepals.
A four-time Randwick winner, she’s done everything right so far and is deserving of her short quote in the markets to kick off where she left off from gate nine with James McDonald aboard.
Despite Waller’s dominant hand the danger occupying the second line of Apollo Stakes betting is from outside the stable with a touch of money coming early for an upset from the Joe Pride-trained Ceolwulf ($5.50).
The Tavistock five-year-old has amassed just shy of $11 million in prize money to date and was last seen winning Flemington’s Group 1 Champions Mile on Heavy going last November.
Prior to that he was a narrow Randwick winner in the Group 1 King Charles III Stakes but is winless from his six first-up runs to date making him a risk this weekend with improvement expected as he progresses this campaign.
Two other runners are currently under double figure Apollo Stakes odds with Waller’s 2024 runner-up Lindermann ($8) out to go one better and the also Waller-trained Aeliana ($9).
Ultra-consistent Lonhro six-year-old Lindermann has had eight first-up starts without a win but remains a class horse with top three claims having closed out his spring prep with back-to-back wins in the Group 2 Hill Stakes and Group 3 Craven Plate.
Aeliana meanwhile had plenty of hype around her as a filly having run competitively in all the autumn three-year-old majors including beating home the boys by five lengths in the Group 1 Australian Derby (2400m).
She remains winless since her Derby demolition job but was competitive in plenty over the spring with her latest run being a sixth in the time-honoured Ladbrokes Cox Plate five lengths off the subsequently retired Via Sistina in late October.
Better on her Sydney leg her Randwick record is solid (4:2-1-0) and she presents a touch of value in gate seven with Zac Lloyd to ride this weekend.
Punters chasing the value in this year’s Apollo Stakes field could benefit from looking at the form around $14 pop Stefi Magnetica who lines-up from the outside alley.
Bjorn Baker‘s five-year-old All Too Hard mare also has plenty of Randwick form to rely on (8:2-3-0) including her Doncaster Mile win last autumn and is one of the genuine 1400m specialists in the field.
Her latest turf triumph saw her carry a hefty 59.5kg to victory at this track and trip in the $2 million The Invitation before she finished a credible third to Ceolwulf in Flemington’s Champions Mile.
The 2026 Apollo Stakes is set to run as Randwick Race 8 at 4:30pm (AEDT) on the 10-race card in Sydney.
Apollo Stakes 2026 Odds
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1. Ceolwulf (5)
J: Chad Schofield 59kg
T: Joseph Pride |
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| Gelding back from a spell of three-and-a-half months. Has placed previously first up from a break. Finished off last campaign by nose Flemington G1 Cantala Stks November 8 over 1600m in the wet defeating Pericles carrying 59kg at $5. Previously first up; fourth of 11 at this track in the G1 Winx Stks August 23 over 1400m, on rain affected going; 2.5 len behind Via Sistina carrying 59kg at $5.50. Struck career-best form in the spring and has to be taken seriously. | ||
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2. Antino (1)
J: Tommy Berry 59kg
T: Tony Gollan |
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| Resuming after a break of four months. Finished off last preparation when last of 8 at Moonee Valley in the G1 Cox Plate October 25 over 2040m, 7 len behind Via Sistina with 59kg at $3.80. When resuming last campaign fifth of 9 at Caulfield in the G1 Memsie August 30 over 1400m, soft track; 4.5 len behind Treasurethe Moment carrying 59kg at $7.50. Unsure where he lands from the inside draw; prefer in something else. | ||
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3. Lindermann (6)
J: Nash Rawiller 59kg
T: Chris Waller |
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| Is first-up after a break of four months and has been in the money when fresh before. Finished off last preparation won by 2 len this track G3 Craven Plt October 25 over 1800m defeating Militarize carrying 59kg at $1.35. When resuming last campaign second last of 11 at this track in the G1 Winx Stks August 23 over 1400m, on rain affected going; 7 len behind Via Sistina with 59kg at $19. Personifies grit and is sure to be in this for a very long way. | ||
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4. The Instructor (3)
J: Adam Hyeronimus 59kg
T: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott |
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| At the latest run sat on speed throughout when 2nd of 7 at Rosehill in the G3 Japan Ra Plate on January 31 over 1200m, nose behind Willaidow with 58.5kg at $6.50. The run before that raced on the pace before fading 7th of 11 at Gold Coast Mm Sprint on January 17 over 1200m, 4 len behind Axius carrying 57.5kg at $2.90. Will bounce to the front and give plenty of cheek with running in the legs. | ||
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5. Wootton Verni (2)
J: Josh Parr 59kg
T: Chris Waller |
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| First-up. Finished off last campaign won by 2.25 len this track G3 Rosehill Cup November 1 over 2000m slow track defeating Imperialist carrying 55kg at $2.90. Previously first up; second last of 9 at Goulburn Goul Cup Mbm99 August 24 over 1400m, on rain affected going; 6 len behind Ruby Flyer carrying 58kg at $3.30. Very tough ask fresh. | ||
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6. Soul Of Spain (4)
J: Jay Ford 59kg
T: Chris Waller |
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| Resuming. Finished off last campaign third of 10 at this track in the G3 St Leger October 18 over 2600m, 0.9 len behind Travolta carrying 57.5kg at $5. Previous preparation first-up won by 0.5 len Ipswich Cl5 August 20 over 1680m slow track defeating Sporting Chance with 59kg at $2.40. Hard to see him threatening. | ||
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7. Autumn Glow (9)
J: James McDonald 57kg
T: Chris Waller |
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| Has won previously first-up and resumes here after a break of three-and-a-half months. Finished off last preparation won by 1.3 len this track Golden Eagle November 1 over 1500m slow track defeating Sepals with 55.5kg at $1.75. Previous preparation first-up favourite; won by 0.5 len this track G3 Toy Show August 23 over 1100m on heavy track defeating Gangsta Granny carrying 55.5kg at $1.50. Absolute star and is set for another successful campaign; expecting her to remain undefeated here. | ||
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8. Stefi Magnetica (10)
J: Jason Collett 57kg
T: Bjorn Baker |
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| Has won previously first-up and resumes here after a break of three-and-a-half months. Finished off last campaign third of 9 at Flemington in the G1 Cantala Stks November 8 over 1600m, in the wet; 4.5 len behind Ceolwulf carrying 57kg at $11. Previously first up; fourth of 8 at Rosehill in the G2 Sheraco September 13 over 1200m, soft track; 3 len behind Manaal carrying 59kg at $7.50. Has trialled as well as ever and can give this a shake. | ||
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9. Aeliana (7)
J: Zac Lloyd 57kg
T: Chris Waller |
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| Mare back from a spell of four months. Has placed previously first up from a break. Finished off last campaign sixth of 8 at Moonee Valley in the G1 Cox Plate October 25 over 2040m, 5 len behind Via Sistina carrying 55.5kg at $8. Previously first up; second of 11 at this track in the G1 Winx Stks August 23 over 1400m, in the wet; a long neck behind Via Sistina with 56.5kg at $6.50. Oozes class but may be left with too much to do when straightening. | ||
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10. River Of Stars (8)
J: Tim Clark 57kg
T: Chris Waller |
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| Back from a spell. Finished off last preparation fourth of 24 at Flemington in the G1 Melb Cup November 4 over 3200m, soft track; 6 len behind Half Yours carrying 51.5kg at $19. When resuming last campaign seventh of 15 at Caulfield in the LR Heatherlie Hcp August 30 over 1700m, soft track; 9 len behind Too Darn Discreet with 58kg at $11. Genuine hit-out for her; needs a lot further. | ||
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