‘Lovely’: McEvoy gives Autumn Glow tick before $5m showdown

He might have been warming the saddle for race day jockey James McDonald, but Kerrin McEvoy has given Autumn Glow his seal of approval ahead of her main campaign target of the King Charles III Stakes at Randwick.

With McDonald at Caulfield for the Guineas meeting, McEvoy partnered the star mare in a 1000m solo exhibition gallop between races at Rosehill and came away satisfied she was spot-on.

“Lovely. She’s got a great attitude, which we know,” McEvoy said.

“She’s a pleasure to deal with, and she put forward some nice work, so she’s in good form.”

Autumn Glow was kept under a good rein and covered the 1000m in 1:05.99 with her final 600m sectional 36.18 seconds.

It was her first public appearance since she added the Seven Sunrise Stakes (1600m) to her first-up Winx Stakes (1400m) win, trainer Chris Waller’s assistant, Charlie Duckworth, saying they opted for the track gallop in place of a barrier trial.

They have no qualms about the five-year-old going into the King Charles III Stakes (1600m) a month between runs given her natural athleticism, adding the $5 million Everest day feature has been a long-range goal.

“She moved well, pulled up clean in the wind, so she ticked every box we wanted ticked,” Duckworth said.

“In terms of holding her fitness levels, those elite horses do tend to hold their fitness a bit easier than others because of their natural aerobic capacity.

“This is the main race that has been targeted for the preparation, so we haven’t left a stone unturned. Fingers crossed we can get a nice draw, and it sets up nicely for us.”

Duckworth said the stable was unlikely to have another King Charles runner, although they could change tack if nominations were light.

Autumn Glow is expected to have one final piece of fast work during the week to top her off for Saturday and her clash with reigning King Charles titleholder Ceolwulf, and bold frontrunner Pride Of Jenni.

Pride Of Jenni has been a recent addition to the mix after the race wasn’t originally on her spring schedule.