![Promising Chris Waller three-year-old Steel Will will attempt to follow a path previously taken by Autumn Glow and Ninja at Rosehill. [Bradley Photos]](https://betsy.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/1957382.jpg)
The promising Steel Will is set to start the shortest-priced favourite in the five-year history of a race that has been a winning launch pad for Autumn Glow, Manzoice and Ninja.
It might only be a three-year-old benchmark 72 at the beginning of the season, but in four years it has provided a window on the future.
No less than four group 1 winners, and another in waiting in Missile Stakes winner Ninja, alongside several more Group and Listed winners have used the 1300m contest around Rosehill to show their wares.
It is a record that many black type races would envy.
The benchmark was put into the program when the Up And Coming Stakes was moved back a couple of weeks to fit into a program towards the Golden Rose. Since, the benchmark 72 has a better honour roll than the Group 3 it replaced.
The first edition in 2022 found the Victoria Derby and Australian Derby winner that season in Manzoice and Major Beel, while Kintyre, a Queensland Guineas and Frank Packer Plate winner, won the second running when Newmarket winner Caballus was third as the $1.90 favourite in 2023.
Autumn Glow debut with the easiest of wins two years ago, while Ninja scored the second win of his career in last year’s edition, which included Karinska running fifth before she was a placegetter in the Flight Stakes later in the spring.
“It’s a good time of year for a race like this,” said trainer Chris Waller, who has won it twice with future Group 1 winners.
“There are good horses emerging at this time of year and it fits into a program that sees them step up.
“We are not just waiting for the Winx Stakes, there will be good horses there on Saturday and the next couple of Wednesdays, but this race has certainly found its place.
“It is well placed to give horses a good experience and better ones can go on from it as we have seen.”
Waller will have three runners in the benchmark 72, led by impressive Wyong maiden winner Steel Will, the $1.65 favourite, along with Letters Patent and Your Colour.
“It is the right progression for Steel Will after his maiden win,” Waller said.
“I trained his mum, [two-time Group 1 winner] September Run, who started her spring around the same time and kept improving to win a Coolmore Stud Stakes.
“He has a bit more scope than her and might get out to a mile, but we are still finding out about him. He’s a nice horse.”
