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Sensational colt The Autumn Sun has retired from racing and will join the Arrowfield Stud roster for the 2019 season.
The Autumn Sun’s owners, Hermitage Thoroughbreds and Arrowfield, met this week to consider the options for the five-time group 1 winner. After extensive discussions, the opportunity to return the colt to his spiritual home and fill the gap left by the death of Redoute’s Choice proved too compelling.
“We backed Redoute’s Choice as a sire of sires early in his career,” Arrowfield’s John Messara said. “We stand Snitzel and Not A Single Doubt, and Beneteau was also highly successful for us. That history makes the best colt by Redoute’s Choice an irresistible prospect.”
After his debut 2-year-old win over 1,200 meters in class-record time, The Autumn Sun progressed rapidly to compile five group 1 victories from 1,400 to 2,000 meters over a nine-month period, including the Jaguar Landrover J.J. Atkins Plate at 2. Trained by Chris Waller, he is the only horse to win the Ladbrokes Caulfield, Mostyn Copper Randwick, and Sky Racing Rosehill Guineas.
The Autumn Sun retires to stud with eight wins and AU$3.4 million (US$2,511,503) in prize money from nine starts.
“The quality of The Autumn Sun’s race record also reflects the skill and dedication of trainer Chris Waller and his team, and we’re very grateful for their care and management of him,” Messara added.
A joint venture has been established between Hermitage and Arrowfield to acquire mares specifically for The Autumn Sun. These mares will be additional to those already committed by Arrowfield for his first book.
The Autumn Sun will stand his first season at Arrowfield at a fee of AU$77,000.
