First Stakes Winner for The Autumn Sun as Autumn Ballet Creates History in Black Opal
A quinella for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott in the Group III John McGrath Auto Black Opal Stakes (1200m) at Canberra on Sunday as Autumn Ballet created history in winning the feature on debut and in the process credited The Autumn Sun with his first stakes-winner.
Ridden by Tim Clark, Autumn Ballet tracked stablemate The Years (Time Test), before taking command at the 250m to win by two lengths. Make A Call (Extreme Choice) was length back in third.
“Gai is here to break records. Gai and Adrian, what a terrific partnership, to be able to get this filly to the race and win first-up” stable representative Neil Paine said.
“Our stable is enjoying a terrific run with the two-year-olds.
“Tim rode that beautiful and we got the quinella.”
‘A $340,000 purchase for Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott / Kestrel Thoroughbreds from the Arrowfield Stud draft at the 2022 Inglis Australian Easter, Autumn Ballet runs for a syndicate headed by Nick Vass.
The daughter of The Autumn Sun is the second winner from as many to race out of the Street Cry (IRE) mare Grisi.
Placed at Newcastle in a 2-start career, Grisi is a half-sister to Group II Meydan Zabeel Mile winner Zakouski (Shamardal), Group III Up and Coming Stakes winner and Group 1 Golden Rose runner-up Albrecht (Redoute’s Choice), and Group III Prix Thomas Bryon winner King’s Command (Dubawi).
Grisi’s dam O’Giselle (Octagonal) is a sister to champion racehorse and sire Lonhro.
Grisi foaled a colt by The Autumn Sun last spring.
A 5-time Group 1 winning son of Redoute’s Choice, The Autumn Sun stands at Arrowfield Stud for a fee of $66,000.
-Mark Smith
