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Chris Waller‘s champion mare Autumn Glow took her flawless career start into double figures posting win number 10 on the trot with another stylish performance for the punters in Saturday’s Verry Elleegant Stakes 2026 results at Royal Randwick.

The punters rallied around the outstanding four-year-old daughter of The Autumn Sun in a big way with Autumn Glow jumping the odds-on favourite at Winx like odds of $1.26 in the Group 1 $1 million Verry Elleegant Stakes (1600m).
Master trainer Waller secured his incredible 12th success in the race formerly known as the Chipping Norton Stakes, and it was an easy watch as Autumn Glow once again lived up to expectations at her pet track for her sixth win at Randwick.
“She does everything right, simple as that,” Waller told Sky Thoroughbred Central.
“Doesn’t matter where she draws, what the track conditions are, or distances, she puts herself in the race.
“A different type of horse to some of those good horses I’ve trained when they get back and they have your heart in your mouth, but I still have my heart in my mouth.
“But, yeah, she’s up on the speed. She puts herself there, so that’s the difference.”
After a sizzling return to dominate the Group 2 Apollo Stakes here a fortnight back, the great-in-the-making relished a step-up to the mile to secure her second Group 1 success having previously saluted at the track and trip in last year’s Epsom Handicap.
It was a repeat of the Apollo quinella with the stable’s five-length ATC Derby champion, Aeliana, coming closer in the rematch finishing a half-length back second while Sir Delius made a terrific return for the Waterhouse/Bott stable rounding out the trifecta in third.
“She’s a pretty good horse, simple as that,” Waller said of runner-up Aeliana.
“I think that next start they’d head different ways, thanks to this, because it’s not good for the nerves.
“Yes, she’s a very good horse, Aeliana, and she’ll head to the Ranvet (Group 1 over 2000m at Rosehill on March 21).”
Rated and ridden to perfection by James McDonald, Autumn Glow was poised fourth on the turn for home ready to pounce as stablemate Lindermann led the field round the final bend.
At the top of the straight J-Mac came off the heels of the front runners to peel out and cut loose on the outside.
Aeliana briefly hit the front and gave plenty of fight but ultimately was outclassed late by Autumn Glow who made it a perfect 10/10 with her tight but convincing victory.
“Her demeanour, her presence, she knows she’s so good,” McDonald said.
“You can just see her strut around, even cantering to the start looking around like ‘you guys have got none’.
“She’s pretty good and she moves like a dream.
“She just breathes so well and so push-button. She’s got an incredible turn of foot.
“We weren’t going to see the same performance we did first-up because of the ground.
“Even though it wasn’t to her liking she was always going to win, even if I went another furlong.”
Waller is now weighing up next-up options for the Autumn Glow who is likely to target the Group 1 $1 million George Ryder Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill on March 21.
“George Ryder. I’d love to try her at 2000m, but she’s got to be dominant in her next win to give us that ultimate satisfaction that she can run the 2000m, otherwise it’s probably the Doncaster,” Waller said.
“She’s got a lot of weight, but she’s a good horse.”
Autumn Glow is now at a nearly unbackable all-in quote of $1.20 in futures George Ryder Stakes 2026 betting at Ladbrokes.com.au.
George Ryder Stakes 2026 Odds
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1. Autumn Glow
T: |
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2. Attica
T: |
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3. Lady Shenandoah
T: |
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4. Pericles
T: |
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5. Angel Capital
T: |
Following that, Randwick’s ‘The Championships’ are calling with the team considering both the Group 1 $4 million Doncaster Mile (1600m) on April 4 or the Group 1 $5 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) the Saturday after.
“I’ll talk to Mr. (John) Messara and the Hermitage team in Hong Kong. I respect what they’ve got to say more than anything. It’s still in play, yes, definitely still in play,” Waller said.
“The only thing with the Doncaster, there’s a few unknowns. You can get barrier draws, like barrier 20 and things like that.
“She’s had some tricky draws in her previous races, but I guess when you’ve got a smaller weight-for-age field where your draws aren’t as important, it makes the job a bit easier.”
The bookies however are taking no chances with Autumn Glow firming in from $4.50 to $2.60 as the firm favourite in futures Doncaster Mile betting at Ladbrokes.com.au.
Doncaster Mile 2026 Odds
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1. Autumn Glow
T: |
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2. Autumn Boy
T: |
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3. Ninja
T: |
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4. Yorkshire
T: |
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5. Sheza Alibi
T: |
McDonald meanwhile is firmly in favour of a step up in trip for Autumn Glow who he believes could win the Queen Elizabeth.
“I think she should run Queen Elizabeth. She’ll win it,” he said.
She also sits top of the early 2026 Queen Elizabeth Stakes odds slashed from $7 to $3.20.
Queen Elizabeth Stakes 2026 Odds
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1. Aeliana
T: |
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2. Autumn Glow
T: |
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3. Sir Delius
T: |
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4. Barnavara
T: |
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5. Buckaroo
T: |
Verry Elleegant Stakes 2026 Results
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1st
8. Autumn Glow (3)
J: James McDonald 57kg
T: Chris Waller |
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2nd
9. Aeliana (1)
J: Zac Lloyd 57kg
T: Chris Waller |
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3rd
2. Sir Delius (6)
J: Craig Williams 59kg
T: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott |
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4th
5. Soul Of Spain (5)
J: Tommy Berry 59kg
T: Chris Waller |
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5th
4. Wootton Verni (7)
J: Adam Hyeronimus 59kg
T: Chris Waller |
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6th
1. Ceolwulf (2)
J: Chad Schofield 59kg
T: Joseph Pride |
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7th
7. Trinity College (4)
J: Tim Clark 58.5kg
T: Chris Waller |
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8th
6. Valiant King (9)
J: Sam Clipperton 59kg
T: Chris Waller |
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9th
3. Lindermann (8)
J: Nash Rawiller 59kg
T: Chris Waller |
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