![James McDonald and Autumn Glow win the King Charles Stakes [Bradley Photos]](https://betsy.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/2379254.jpg)
Champion trainer Chris Waller has had Autumn Glow and Joliestar under his eye for the past week at Flemington, preparing for Champions Day, where he knows the nerves will kick in on Saturday.
The meticulous Waller is systems-driven, but there are certain horses that get under his guard, and Autumn Glow has become one of them.
A winner of 14 of her 15 starts, Autumn Glow is a $1.25 favourite to add Group 1 number six to her record in the Champions Mile, but Waller admits it is an uncomfortable feeling when she steps on the track.
“I spoke at a lunch that other day, and one of the questions was, do I still get nervous? The answer is yes,” Waller said.
“I’ll be nervous about Autumn Glow on the final day, I told them. She has still got that hype and expectation around her, and you feel that.
“Joliestar will be running on Saturday, as will Birdman and Aeliana – they’re a bit different, still very good horses, but Autumn Glow has the wow factor.”
Waller made sure Autumn Glow had time to get into her routine in her first trip to Melbourne, arriving before Derby Day with Joliestar.
“It was great to see the pair of them walk off the truck last Friday, they were nice and relaxed,” Waller said.
“Having a horse like Joliestar, who has been there before and done it here and overseas, really helped Autumn Glow and they both settled in straight away.
“The system is the same at all our stables, but it was good to see them like that straight away.”
Autumn Glow could be the shortest-priced of the spring, which has seen Ka Ying Rising and Sheza Alibi turned over to punters’ surprise in the past month.
Waller sits on 25 Group 1s for 2026 and will play a major role in the four Group 1s remaining at the Flemington carnival. De Armas is a $3 second favourite for the VRC Oaks, while Aeliana and Birdman will look to reverse the Cox Plate result on Cosmic Crusader.
However, it was a considered decision to take Joliestar, a Newmarket winner, to the Champions Sprint rather than chase more than $3 million for winning the Russell Balding Stakes in Sydney.
Joliestar was only a half-length away from Tempted running third in The Everest and the lure of a return bout down the Flemington straight won out.
“When we were making the decision to go down for the Champions Sprint, I watched the replay of last year’s race again [when Joliestar ran third to Giga Kick] and she didn’t have anything go her way,” Waller said.
“Tempted is obviously a superstar, but we believe Joliestar can give her a race down the straight.”
Joliestar will also be looking for her sixth Group 1 victory on Saturday, it would take beyond The Autumn Sun, who won five times at the top level for Waller, and only behind his superstars in Winx, Via Sistina, Very Elleegant and Nature Strip.
