Autumn Glow hit hard in Doncaster weights as $26 chance catches the eye

The owners will keep their options open with unbeaten star Autumn Glow in the Doncaster, but she would be considered one of the main losers when weights were released for Australia’s biggest mile on Tuesday.

She was given the 56.5kg that Winx carried 10 years, but in real terms considering her benchmark, which stands at 118, she is a kilogram worse off the weights.

The scale is half a kilogram down on last year’s Doncaster to get Autumn Glow under the 57kg mark that More Joyous and Sunline were unsuccessful with as four-year-old mares.

Autumn Glow has only won one Group 1, while at the same point in their careers, Winx had won three, including the Cox Plate and More Joyous four.

More Joyous had beaten the older horses in the George Main Stakes, Toorak Handicap and Futurity and was 120-rated, a kilogram better than Autumn Glow.

Gringotts and Autumn Glow have paid a penalty for winning newly created races by Racing NSW, which the handicappers seem to rate highly.

Even with the three-benchmark-point drop this week Gringotts is weighed out of the Doncaster.

While Waller might not have Autumn Glow there on Doncaster day, Sixties appears his biggest winner at the weights.

He only has 49kg and if he can win the Australian Guineas, where he is a $2.60 second pick in betting, he should gain a start. The handicapper won’t get another chance to move him up the weights.

Sixties is $21 chance with some bookies.

Waller may also give serious consideration to running Australian Derby winner Aeliana with 54kg, other of the four-year-old mares she seems the best dealt with. She is probably better at 2000m than a mile but there is an invitation to run and she is $26.

The value play could be the form miler in the country in Pericles. He meets Autumn Glow two kilograms better at the weights for being beaten 1-1/2 lengths in the Epsom.

He loves the Randwick mile, he has been beaten less than a length in past two Doncasters, run third in Epsom and fourth in the King Charles Stakes last year.

He has earned the 57kg, but is better than a $26 chance.