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Ray on Sunday

Autumn Glow unbeatable, Tentyris incredible, Joliestar brilliant, Aeliana eye-catching, Lady Shenandoah excellent, Sixties impressive.

AUTUMN GLOW winning the PETALUMA APOLLO STAKES at Randwick in Australia.
AUTUMN GLOW winning the PETALUMA APOLLO STAKES at Randwick in Australia. Picture: Bradley Photos.
Some of racing's headline acts made their returns to racing at Royal Randwick and Flemington on Saturday and were outstanding in their comeback efforts.

The problem was finding a different superlative for each but if this is a portent of things to come in autumn, bring it on!

At Randwick, Hall of Fame trainer Chris Waller led in the trifecta in the Group 2 Apollo Stakes but the scene-stealer was Autumn Glow.

Racing's "Miss Invincible" made it nine starts for nine wins, cruising home nearly three lengths clear of a quality weight-for-age field.

Autumn Glow has a long way to go to match the incomparable Black Caviar's amazing undefeated record of 25 wins (15 at Group 1 level) but Waller's wonder mare is already in rarefied air.

Black Caviar aside, only one other horse has won more races than Autumn Glow to start a race career – and that was Perth's Barakey who was unbeaten in his first 11 starts including the Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes until he met defeat when unplaced behind Shamexpress in the 2013 Newmarket Handicap.

Shamexpress has gone on to even greater fame at stud as the sire of the world's best sprinter, Hong Kong's Ka Ying Rising, winner of his last 17 races in succession and 18 of his 20 career starts.

But Autumn Glow's unbeaten record now matches that of another legendary Australian champion, Grand Flaneur, winner of his only nine starts including the 1880 Melbourne Cup.

Fortunately, we will get to enjoy Autumn Glow for much longer with owner John Messara confirming plans to run his superstar mare in the Group 1 Verry Elleegant Stakes, Group 1 George Ryder Stakes and most likely the Group 1 Queen of the Turf Stakes to complete her four-year-old autumn campaign. 

There is every chance Autumn Glow will go to the paddock for winter with her perfect race record intact and the good news is she will race on next season with long-term plans to take her to Royal Ascot in 2027.

Remarkably, Autumn Glow hasn't been fully tested yet in her nine races so Waller, Messara and jockey James McDonald don't really know how good she is. The same can be said of Tentyris.

TENTYRIS winning the Black Caviar Lightning at Flemington in Australia.
TENTYRIS winning the Black Caviar Lightning at Flemington in Australia. Picture: Racing Photos
It could be argued Tentyris should nearly be unbeaten but his record of five wins from eight starts including successive Group 1 wins in the Coolmore Stud Stakes and Lightning Stakes down the Flemington straight are a demonstration of his untapped talent.

Godolphin's Tentyris is likely to go to the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap then the world beckons with races in Dubai and Royal Ascot on the cards.

Royal Ascot's Nick Smith was in Riyadh for the Saudi Cup overnight but he took particular interest in the Lightning Stakes given the boom on Tentyris.

Smith is Royal Ascot's international equine talent scout and Tentyris will be top of his list now after the colt's awesome last-to-first comeback win.

There were no excuses for those who finished behind Tentyris although My Gladiola was gallant in defeat.

The same can be said for Autumn Glow's vanquished opposition although Aeliana's fast finishing second was a promising return.

Aeliana is emerging as one of the nation's elite middle distance weight-for-age horses and although she has to take on Autumn Glow again in the Verry Elleegant Stakes at 1600m next start, she is going to take some beating when she gets to 2000m for the Group 1 Ranvet Stakes.

Lindermann completed the Waller trifecta in the Apollo Stakes with a typically competitive effort while the unplaced runs of Stefi Magnetica (fifth) and Ceolwulf (sixth) were acceptable given both will improve significantly from the run.

Joliestar enhanced her first-up record in the Expressway Stakes, finishing too strongly for a game Caballus who did well after being slow away. Lady Shenandoah had to ease off the heels of Caballus and charged late to just miss second, suggesting she will be better over further.

In the Light Fingers Stakes, the under-rated Savvy Hallie made all to score a tough win over top filly Apocalyptic who will no doubt take great benefit from her comeback run.

Waller won the Apollo Stakes-Expressway Stakes double and capped the afternoon with emerging three-year-old Sixties' statement win in the Hayes Stakes.

Sixties was very dominant and indicated Godolphin colt Observer doesn't have the Group 1 Australian Guineas all to himself.

There was so much elite equine quality to feast on at Randwick and Flemington but, excitingly, this was only the entrée.

Ray Thomas interview with Nick Smith - Royal Ascot 2026

Racing and Sports
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Ray Thomas interview with Nick Smith - Royal Ascot 2026



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