Autumn Glow is worth millions everywhere you look.
Her value soared again after a Golden Eagle victory that completed a blackout for bookmakers.
Well-backed favourite after well-backed favourite rolled in on one of the biggest betting days of the year, and Autumn Glow carried the multis of a nation of punters.
“She is the worst result in the 15 years I have been at the TAB,” head trader Tim Ryan said.
Getta Good Feeling started the blackout at $1.60 in the Wakeful Stakes, Tentyris was $4 to $2.90 before his dynamic victory in the Coolmore Stud Stakes and Observer won the Victoria Derby at $2.30.
Add Jimmysstar, $3 to $2.50 in the Russell Balding Stakes in Sydney and Autumn Glow was the final anchor to sink bookmakers.
She was $1.85 before Tentyris, a $1.80 after he won, and then $1.70 when the Derby favourite saluted.
It wasn’t quite $10 million but it got damn close at the TAB. Add the other operators around Australia, it would have been in excess of $60 million riding on James McDonald on Autumn Glow.
There would have been a brief moment of concern but Autumn Glow did what she does and rolled away for an easy 1-1/4 length victory.
“She was never at home in that ground,” McDonald said. “She is just that good.
”We have our replacement [for Via Sistina].”
Messara is in awe of the daughter of The Autumn Sun, which has earned more than $7 million on the track.
Asked if she was for sale, Messara revealed, “I had a very rich man asked me that the other day. I told him ‘not even you have enough money to buy her.’”
“She is a generational horse that is going to have a home at Arrowfield for a long time.”
”Our best was Miss Finland, she won a Golden Slipper and VRC Oaks but this girl has it all in front of her.”
For now it is time to enjoy Autumn Glow. Messara had three generations of his family at Randwick, McDonald had daughters Evie and Mia at the races to watch o his new star.
Autumn Glow pulled away to win from Sepals and Evaporate leaving no doubt of the best four-year-old in the country. She might even be the best horse in Australia.
“She is a star. It is as simple as that,” trainer Chris Waller said.
“She does it each and every time. There is nothing that shows us that much at home.”
“That heart and determination and presence that she has is really quite special.”
The future will take care of itself with Autumn Glow. She will take on the best in the next year, Waller mentioning Canterbury Stakes, Verry Elleegant Stakes and the George Ryder Stakes, maybe even the Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
“We still don’t know what her best trip is,” Waller said. “The program takes care of itself from now.”
The scary part is that The Everest could even be a part of the planning, if they decide to sprint her.
Messara would eventually like to show her off to the world.
“These horses allow you to dream. Royal Ascot would be nice but that would take a lot of planning,” Messara said.
“We are just going to enjoy her.”
