Arrowfield Stud principal John Messara, AM has today announced the
acquisition of a 50 per cent interest in Australia's top colt The Autumn Sun
from owner Hermitage Thoroughbreds.
He
says, "I am very pleased to join Hermitage in the ownership of The Autumn Sun
to race him and then develop his breeding career.
"It just seems Arrowfield is the rightful place for this colt's future at stud
– after all, we bred and sold him in partnership with The Aga Khan Studs, and
we launched and stood his champion sire and grand-sire."
"He has physique, athleticism and pedigree, all of the highest order, and I
couldn't be more excited about the prospect of standing him at Arrowfield."
The Autumn Sun winning the BRC JJ Atkins
S. G1. (PHOTO: Mark Gatt)
John
Messara also assumes responsibility for managing The Autumn Sun's racing
career.
Trainer
Chris Waller says, "This horse has amazing potential and I feel we have
unearthed only a small portion of what is to come. His athleticism,
temperament, good looks and speed combine to create a horse that dominated at
two and now into his three-year-old season, and I have no doubt this will
continue as a later three-year-old and beyond.
"I
have been fortunate to work with some very good horses and that experience has
allowed me to place The Autumn Sun with confidence in the races that we have
chosen thus far. He leaves a lasting memory for those privileged to watch him
race and I am sure this will transition to his progeny when the time comes to
embark on his stud career."
The
Autumn Sun is out of the Galileo mare Azmiyna, a half-sister to His Highness
The Aga Khan's European Champion and four- time Group 1 winner Azamour.
Selected by Mulcaster Bloodstock from Arrowfield's 2017 Inglis Easter draft,
the colt was purchased for $700,000 by Hermitage Thoroughbreds & Chris
Waller Racing.
The Autumn Sun has already made a significant impact on Australian racing with
four wins from only five starts, two of them at Group 1 level. Unbeaten at two
when his three wins included the BRC JJ Atkins S. G1, The Autumn Sun confirmed
his class with a breath-taking victory in last month's ATC Golden Rose S. G1.
Currently
rated Australia's best 3YO by Timeform, he is the dominant pre-post favourite
for this Saturday's $2 million MRC Caulfield Guineas G1.