First Stakes Winner for The Autumn Sun as Autumn Ballet Creates History in Black Opal

Mark Smith - Sunday March 12

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.

&quo

Advertisement
t;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.

Autumn Ballet a $340,000 Inglis Easter Yearling

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.

Arrowfield Stud consigns a full-sister to the Black Opal winner to the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale in April (lot 157).

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.

  

Advertisment

Race Result - John McGrath Auto Black Opal Gr3 1200m

Canberra Track: Soft(5) Time: 1:10.06
1
Autumn Ballet
- 2f The Autumn Sun (AUS) x Grisi (AUS) (Street Cry (IRE))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: Tim Clark 54
MM Gold Coast Yearling Sale $325,000
Seller: Arrowfield Stud, Scone, NSW (As Agent)
Buyer: Waller Racing/Mulcaster Bloodstock
2
2.0
The Years
- 2c Time Test (GB) x Joy Anna (NZ) (Iffraaj (GB))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: Regan Bayliss 56
Inglis Classic Yearling Sale $40,000
Seller: Wentwood Grange, Cambridge, NZ
Buyer: DJ Bowman Racing
3
3.0
Make A Call
- 2c Extreme Choice (AUS) x To Dubawi Go (AUS) (Dubawi (IRE))
Tnr: P & P Snowden Rdr: S Clipperton 56
4
3.4
Tiz Invincible
- 2f I Am Invincible (AUS) x Amuletum (GB) (New Approach (IRE))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: M J Dee 54
5
3.5
Disneck
- 2c Trapeze Artist (AUS) x Lindisfarne (USA) (City Zip (USA))
Tnr: Bjorn Baker Rdr: Rachel King 57
6
5.7
Madeira Sunrise
- 2f I Am Invincible (AUS) x Indrabeel (NZ) (Savabeel (AUS))
Tnr: Michael Freedman Rdr: K S Latham 55
7
6.5
Cap Ferrat
- 2c Snitzel (AUS) x C'Est Beau La Vie (AUS) (Bernardini (USA))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: J B Mc Donald 56
8
7.2
Love Shuck
- 2g Mikki Isle (JPN) x Oyster Bell (AUS) (Magic Albert (AUS))
Tnr: Todd Smart Rdr: J Ford 56
9
8.9
Chop The Ice
- 2g Santos (AUS) x Lady Ice (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: G P Vella Rdr: S Guymer 56
10
15.6
Lady Jezam
- 2f Written By (AUS) x My Last Fling (AUS) (Sebring (AUS))
Tnr: G Portelli Rdr: Tyler Schiller 54
11
16.6
Legolas
- 2g Capitalist (AUS) x Elfee (NZ) (Iffraaj (GB))
Tnr: Bjorn Baker Rdr: Brock Ryan 56
More Reading...
Autumn Ballet Makes Winning Return in Silver Shadow
Progressive 3yo filly Autumn Ballet made a stunning return to the track in Saturday’s $300,000 Group II Darley Silver Shadow Stakes at Randwick.
Melbourne Cup Pedigree Analysis - Do It Yourself
Breednet has produced a great page with click through to five generation pedigrees for all the Melbourne Cup runners, so for amateur pedigree buffs looking to have a Cup flutter based pedigree here’s your chance  to DIY it!
Cup Day Stakes-Winner for So You Think
The Listed VRC TAB Trophy (1800m) for three year-olds on Cup Day at Flemington drew a competitive field of up and comers with So You Think gelding Opening Address stamping himself as a bright prospect for the future with a stylish victory.
All Too Hard's Arran Bay Brave in the Furphy Plate
Phillip Stokes admitted his preference was to run Arran Bay in the Listed John Letts Cup at Morphettville but was overruled by the owners, who made the correct decision in favouring the Listed Furphy Plate (1800m) at Flemington.
Magic Nick Strikes Again – Fastnet Rock x Galileo
The Fastnet Rock x Galileo nick has been on fire in Melbourne this spring producing Cox Plate winner Via Sistina (IRE) and leading Melbourne Cup contender Buckaroo (GB) and it struck again overnight in the UK with a brand new stakes-winner in Military Academy, who captured the Listed Floodlit Stakes (1m4f) at Kempton.
Coolmore Set Justify Fee for 2025
Coolmore have announced the US fee for Justify in 2025 with the undefeated Triple Crown winner priced at $US250,000 to head  their roster of 16 stallions at Ashford Stud in Kentucky.
Kiwi Bred Grey Wins Subzero for OTI at Flemington
New Zealand-bred gelding Cloudland proved a handful for James McDonald at Flemington on Tuesday, but the champion jockey was in a forgiving mood after they had claimed top honours in the Subzero Handicap.
Tycoon Star Makes Winning Debut in G3 Maribyrnong Plate
Tycoon Star looked like the consummate professional when making a winning career debut in the Group III Darley Maribyrnong Plate (1000m) to kickstart Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington.
2024 Melbourne Cup Result - It's Knights Choice
The 2024 Melbourne Cup has been run and won with Knight’s Choice, a five-year-old gelding by Extreme Choice victorious.
Storm Boy Headed to Ireland
Coolmore have today announced via Twitter that top class Justify (USA) colt Storm Boy will be continuing his racing career in Ireland in 2025 under the care of Aidan O’Brien.