Racing
Ray On Sunday
The great Makybe Diva ushered in the era where mares have dominated Australian racing, according to Hall of Fame trainer Chris Waller.
"She was a three-time Melbourne Cup winner and set the scene, I reckon, for racing in the modern era.
"Black Caviar then took over the baton and passed it on to Winx.
"Is Autumn Glow the next big thing? I don't know but she is certainly creating a lot of interest for racing.''
Waller was speaking on the Big Sports Breakfast Weekend show on Sky Sports Radio when he paid tribute to Makybe Diva who passed away on Saturday morning after suffering from colic.
Makybe Diva won seven Group 1 races including her unprecedented Melbourne Cup hat-trick in 2003-04-05, the Cox Plate, Tancred Stakes, Sydney Cup and Australian Cup before retiring with a then record $14.5 million money.
Makybe Diva was a two-horse Horse of the Year winner – an award mares have dominated this century with 17 wins in 25 years. Winx claimed the title a record four times, Black Caviar three.
Autumn Glow still has a way to go to be mentioned in the same sentence as these three all-time great mares but she is starting to make a case for Horse of the Year honours.
"She does everything right, she is a Princess, a jet on the racetrack, and her racing style is a little bit less heart-in-your-mouth like Winx and those horses who get back in their races,'' Waller said.
"People are enjoying her and she is what racing needs.''
Waller wouldn't be drawn on Autumn Glow's ultimate aim this autumn – the options are the Doncaster Mile, Queen Elizabeth Stakes and Queen of the Turf Stakes – but confirmed her next start will be in the Group 1 $1 million George Ryder Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 21.
"It's a perfect race for her,'' Waller said of the Ryder. "I expect her to be pretty impressive.''
Waller said Autumn Glow will appreciate having three weeks between runs going into the Ryder where she will be chasing her third Group 1 win of the season.
Aeliana getting closer
Aeliana remains winless this season with three Group 1 second placings – but her trainer is adamant the mare will get her day in the sun soon.
"Mark my words in two or three years time, we will be talking about her,'' Waller said of Aeliana. "She is still improving.''
Waller said Aeliana will get her chance to record an overdue Group 1 win in the $1 million Ranvet Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 21.
Autumn Glow provided Waller with his seventh Group 1 win of the season and took his stable earnings over the magical $50 million prizemoney barrier – and there is still five months of the season remaining!
Waller seems set to break the all-time national prizemoney record of $60,483,500 set by Ciaron Maher last season.
But Maher is keeping the pressure on Waller for most Group 1 wins and the prizemoney title this season.
Maher's outstanding three-year-olds Observer and Tempted gave the stable a two-state Group 1 brace on Saturday.
Briasa is back
The "Grey Flash" Briasa begins his TJ Smith Stakes title defence with a barrier trial at Warwick Farm on Monday.
Briasa, trained by Michael, Wayne and John Hawkes, is entered for an 800m heat on the course proper.
Team Hawkes is likely to follow the successful path Briasa blazed last autumn and resume in the Group 1 The Galaxy (1100m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 21 before going second-up to the Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) on Day One of The Championships at Royal Randwick on April 4.
Briasa won the Group 2 Premiere Stakes last spring but wasn't at his best when unplaced in The Everest and Russell Balding Stakes before he was spelled.
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained stayer Vauban, who ran sixth to Half Yours in the Melbourne Cup, steps out in a 1200m heat.
Trainer Joe Pride also has a number of his stable's carnival contenders stepping out including the very promising sprinter's King's Secret and emerging filly Confidentiality.
King's Secret and Confidentiality are half-relations to Pride's $12.8 million earner Private Eye who is not expected to resume until the All Aged Stakes later in the autumn carnival.
Pride also has evergreen sprinter, Mazu, himself the winner of more than $10 million prizemoney, and the much-improved Headley Grange competing at Monday's trial session.
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