Chris Waller has experienced a couple of golden generations in his career, led by exceptional talent that has taken his stable beyond the narrow confines of racing.
But his stars have been different and will always be different.
Winx became the forefront of her generation with 33 consecutive wins, while the unbeaten Autumn Glow follows, looking for the dynamic dozen of wins to start her career in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick on Saturday.
But Waller remembers Winx’s year, including Derby winner Preferment, sensational sprinter Brazen Beau and Kermadec, who won a Doncaster.
Winx wasn’t a standout to start with.
“Hugh Bowman didn’t know who he should ride going into that first Cox Plate,” Waller recalled.
“The question was, should he ride Winx, which was this immature mare coming through the grades nicely, or Preferment, which was a pretty masculine horse that had just won the Turnbull Stakes.”
“It wasn’t straightforward, they were a really good group, but with time, things evolved.”
“We talk about Winx now, but it wasn’t that simple then.”
For the past couple of years, Waller has been managing another great generation of fillies – Lady Shenandoah, Aeliana and Autumn Glow, all will be at Randwick on Saturday.
But ask James McDonald and there has always been a leader of the pack.
“Autumn Glow has been number one right the way through,” he says. “She would have won the Flight Stakes but got injured, and then last autumn we didn’t get to see her reach her target again.”
“We got there in the spring when I stayed on Derby Day to ride her in the Golden Eagle, and I knew that there was more to come.”
“We have had to wait for her. It’s been worth the wait and you’re seeing that now.”
Patience is the Waller way.
While he wins his share of two-year-old and three-year-old Group 1s, he would rather see their best at four and five, and it is why Arrowfield boss John Messara sent Autumn Glow to him after buying her for $1.8 million.
“When I sent her to Chris, I said she is not to race until she is three,” Messara said. “I like the way he takes his time and lets them grow. She was always a great filly but with time was going to be better.”
“We have not rushed her and we have still not seen her best.”
McDonald has absolute faith in Autumn Glow and his opinion has seen her get to the 2000m of the Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
Her adaptability makes her a jockey’s dream and instils confidence.
“We are actually excited by the challenge,” McDonald said. “At no stage has she given us any indication that she won’t run [the 2000m].”
“Since her three-year-old year, I couldn’t wait to see her stretched over a bit further.”
“She’s very, very fit and I think she will run it on her ear, to be fair.”
“The harder they go, the more she will win by.”
Autumn Glow’s autumn has followed the path set by Winx and followed by Verry Elleegant and Via Sistina under Waller’s care, starting with victory in the Apollo Stakes into the Verry Elleegant and George Ryder Stakes, where she thumped rivals with an exhilarating turn of foot.
“When she ran second-up over a mile [Verry Elleegant Stakes], that was a good test for me and she did it very easily that day,” Waller said.
“Her pedigree, her rhythm, the way she conducts herself in a race, she has a great turn of foot – I’m very confident she is ready to run a strong 2000m.”
