Chris Waller fielded plenty of questions following Winx’s 1000m jump-out at Randwick on Saturday, but he had to be happy with stablemate The Autumn Sun.

Billed as one of Winx’s biggest threats heading toward the Spring, The Autumn Sun jumped well and led for the majority of the trial before running third behind D’Argento and the superstar mare.

The Autumn Sun saluting at Randwick earlier in May.

Having been let up for nine weeks prior to his two trials earlier in August, the three-year old is looking to build on May’s back-to-back victories, one of which included the $600,000 J.J. Atkins Plate.

The plan now is to drop back a grade ahead of the Group 2 Stan Fox Stakes over 1500m at Rosehill next Saturday, with the $1 million Group 1 Golden Rose Stakes (1400m) in mind on September 22.

Highly regarded as a horse to beat entering the Spring, The Autumn Sun’s rise to fame has come from just three straight runs, all three of which he’s won. Jockey Kerrin McEvoy continues to bring out the best in the three-year old, while the mare colt continues to mature in the stable.

The long term goal looks to be October’s $2 million Caulfield Guineas and potentially a derby in the Autumn.