Racing
Doncaster weights: the task confronting Autumn Glow
A look at the record of 4yo mares with big weights in the Doncaster Mile
A story on Autumn Glow can't be written these days without some sort of comparison to Winx.
Don't expect this one to be any different.
Chris Waller's unbeaten mare will achieve a couple of things that only the legendary Winx has managed if she makes it 10 wins on end in this year's Doncaster Mile at Randwick.
The daughter of The Autumn Sun was allocated 56.5kg when weights for the $4 million Group 1 were released on Tuesday.
Only Ceolwulf (59kg), Gringotts (58.5kg), Sir Delius (58kg), Antino (57.5kg), Buckaroo (57kg) and Pericles (57kg) were given more weight for the 1600-metre handicap on April 4.
Of the 139 Doncaster entries, 31 received the 49kg limit including Group 1 winners Apocalyptic, Ole Dancer, Vinrock and Nepotism, along with boom Victorian filly Sheza Alibi and leading Australian Guineas hope Sixties.
Autumn Glow's weight is the same carried to victory by Winx a decade ago, which remains the weight-carrying record for a four-year-old mare.
Only four mares have carried more weight to victory in a Doncaster – headlined by Cuddle, who lumped the equivalent of 59kg to victory in 1936 – but all were five or older at the time of their win.
Sunline was one of those, winning under 58kg in 2002, but she was beaten with 57.5kg as a four-year-old two years prior when cut down late by three-year-old Over, who had just 51.5kg.
Only three other four-year-olds mares have contested a Doncaster with at least 56.5kg since the turn of the century and all failed to finish in the top 10.
More Joyous ran 11th under 57kg in 2011, while Typhoon Tracy and Alizee both attempted it with 56.5kg, finishing 14th an 17th respectively.
Autumn Glow's Doncaster weight is 2kg more than she carried to victory in last year's Epsom Handicap and she is a chance to become the 10th horse to win those two races in the same season.
The only mare to have completed that double? You guessed it, Winx.
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