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Chris Waller‘s darling of the turf, Autumn Glow, continues her spring bid this weekend as the odds-on favourite in the 2026 Seven Stakes and she’s scared off all but four of her rivals at Royal Randwick.
One of two million dollar feature races in Sydney on Saturday, the Group 2 Seven Sunrise Stakes (1600m) originally drew a seven-horse field for the fourth edition of this increasingly popular mile clash.
Waller however has opted to withdraw Lindermann and Lady Shenandoah in favour of Group 1 runs in Melbourne’s Underwood and Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes respectively leaving a diminished line-up and further boosting the already huge chance of Autumn Glow to continue her turf domination.
The five-year-old daughter of The Autumn Sun has been the picture of consistency over her already incredible career winning 11 of her 12 starts with the only blip being her Queen Elizabeth third to Sir Delius when stretched to 2000m in the autumn.
Waller has subsequently admitted testing her over the distance was a mistake and she’ll be kept to the mile this prep including this weekend at her pet track (8:7-0-1) second-up.
Fresh she was outstanding in the Group 1 Winx Stakes (1400m) here beating home subsequent 2.75 length Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes champion Sheza Alibi in an effort that impressed James McDonald immensely.
“She’s so special, just her gate speed and tractability,” J-Mac said after the Winx where Autumn Glow looked to have plenty left in the tank the closing stages.
“She knows when she’s in a race because from the 500m to the 400m, it’s like she just powers into herself and just builds herself, she just knows.”
“It’s an incredible feeling and even though she puts herself in good spots, for her to have that audacity to fill her lungs up and know it’s go time, just let rip, it’s just incredible.”
The Seven Stakes odds at Ladbrokes on Autumn Glow to win are justifiably short with a Black Caviar-like price of $1.16 and firming.
McDonald continues associations this weekend from barrier one as he and Waller chase their third straight 7 Stakes trophy after the back-to-back wins by Fangirl (2024-25).
It is Waller’s other remaining Seven Stakes contender Aeliana ($16) drawn the favourite’s outside in gate two after she was withdrawn from Melbourne’s Underwood Stakes in favour of this tough assignment.
The Kiwi-bred mare is another with a strong Randwick strike-rate (7:2-3-0) and she comes off an 11th in the Winx first-up over an unsuitably short distance where she was doing her best work late.
“We got a long way back,” her Winx Stakes jockey Nash Rawiller explained.
“Unfortunately got tangled up with Fangirl early. They have run home quick and she has run home as good as any.
“Over the last furlong she gave me a feel of something special. She is a real darling beast. Just didn’t work for us.”
It is Jason Collett in the saddle this weekend with Aeliana looking to outrun her quote and return to her autumn form that saw her claim the Ranvet Stakes / Tancred Stakes double at Rosehill last prep.
The “danger” to Autumn Glow on the second line of Seven Stakes betting and only other single figure hope is Gringotts ($9).
The Ciaron Maher-trained Per Incanto seven-year-old is a mile specialist having won six of his 10 starts over the 1600m including his back-to-back The Big Dance victories on Cup Day in Sydney.
Saturday will be his third encounter with Autumn Glow and his form against the Queen has been strong with Top 4 placings in the George Ryder (2nd) and first-up in the Winx Stakes (3rd).
Jockey Ethan Brown was very happy with Gringott’s Winx performance, the horse will have taken good benefit from the run and is sure to be there when it counts again.
“Pretty easy to say he has come up better again,” Brown said.
“He has run out of his skin. He’s in for a good prep and benefit from the run.”
Nash Rawiller will be aboard Gringotts this weekend where he’s likely to be outclassed by AG but still in the mix for the exotics.
The Joe Pride-trained four-time Group 1 winning Tavistock gelding Ceolwulf ($12) and Group 1 winning mare Idle Flyer ($18) complete the line-up.
Ceolwulf ran fifth in the Winx Stakes first-up but has been kept fit with a subsequent run in the Group 2 Chelmsford Stakes here last weekend when second to Lindermann so is on the quick back-up here.
Idle Flyer, winner of the Queen Of The Turf at this track and trip last time in, is also third-up in the Seven Stakes off runs in the Winx (6th) and last Saturday’s Group 2 Tramway Stakes when fourth to Headley Grange with her performances leaving a bit to be desired.
The 2026 Seven Sunrise Stakes is set to run as Randwick Race 8 at 3:55pm (AEST) on Saturday’s The Shorts Day card.
2026 Seven Stakes Best Bets
Favourite: No. 4 Autumn Glow
| 4. Autumn Glow (1) J: James McDonald 57kg 113×1 T: Chris Waller | |||
| Second-up. First-up after four months favourite; won by 1.4 len in the G1 Winx Stakes at this track on August 22 over 1400m on a rain affected track defeating Sheza Alibi carrying 57kg at $1.70. Previously second-up favourite; came from midfield and won by a long-neck in the G1 Verry Elleegant (Chipping Norton) Stakes at this track on February 28 over 1600m on a rain affected track defeating Aeliana with 57kg at $1.26. Champion mare who will prove too sharp for these. | |||
