![Autumn Glow and James McDonald leave their rivals behind in a record-breaking Winx Stakes victory at Randwick. [Bradley Photos]](https://betsy.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/2349171.jpg)
Superstar mare Autumn Glow will focus her spring on mile targets with her main goal confirmed as the King Charles III Stakes on October 17.
Owner John Messara, trainer Chris Waller and jockey James McDonald met at the Rosehill stables on Thursday and decided the mile would be her home for the spring rather than taking on Ka Ying Rising in The Everest.
She will wait until the 7 Stakes over the Randwick 1600m on September 19 for her next appearance before the King Charles, with an option to head to Flemington in Melbourne Cup week.
“Her best trip is 1400m and 1600m and it will be where she will target for the spring,” Messara said.
“We would like to take her down to Melbourne after the King Charles if she is up to it.”
Messara favours waiting until Champions Day at Flemington, but would not rule out running in the Empire Rose Stakes on Derby Day.
“We will wait and see how she is after the King Charles before making that decision,” he said. “She is racing at a mile, we would probably keep her at that trip if she goes to Melbourne.”
Autumn Glow is the $1.60 favourite for the King Charles after her mighty return in the Winx Stakes last weekend.
Her absence from The Everest might change the price for defending champion Ka Ying Rising, who remains at $1.50 to join Redzel as a two-time winner of Australia’s richest race.
