Autumn Glow will face her toughest test to date against a handful of more seasoned fillies in the Tea Rose Stakes, and connections admit she will have to be every bit as good as she has promised if she is to remain unbeaten.
The three-year-old has looked a star in the making in her brace of starts, unleashing powerful finishes to win on debut at Rosehill then handle a rapid rise to Group company in the Up And Coming Stakes, both over 1300m.
She chimes into the third Princess Series race on Saturday when she takes on the winners of the opening two legs, Ameena (Silver Shadow Stakes) and Manaal (Furious Stakes), along with the likes of Reisling Stakes victor Erno’s Cube and fellow undefeated filly Snow In May.
Charlie Duckworth, assistant to trainer Chris Waller, says Autumn Glow has continued to please them but they don’t underestimate the job she faces, especially after drawing second from the outside in the nine-horse field.
“We can’t fault her. Her work is outstanding, she galloped nicely on Tuesday morning again, so she is ready to rock and roll,” Duckworth said.
“It’s her stiffest test she has come up against and you always have that query over horses that have never really had to get into a dogfight.
“Whether they’ll find under that extreme pressure or be beaten by a more battle-hardened horse – she has only had the two starts.
“We’re obviously hopeful, but the barrier draw didn’t make it any easier.”
Early punters have no such qualms and Autumn Glow has firmed from $2.30 to even-money favouritism for the Tea Rose Stakes (1400m), ahead of Manaal ($3.80) and Ameena ($7.50).
Waller also has Lazzura ($13) in the race, a Listed winner at Scone in May who put the writing on the wall for a promising spring with her first-up third behind Manaal and Ameena in the Furious.
Duckworth says she is also tracking well and like Autumn Glow, is being aimed towards the fourth and final Princess Series leg, next month’s Group 1 Flight Stakes (1600m) at Randwick.
“She has to lift a little bit to measure up with the big guns, but she is more than capable of doing so,” he said.