Chris Waller and James McDonald will race three group 1 contenders in 80 minutes at Flemington on Saturday, Autumn Glow, Aeliana and Joliestar, in what is the final meeting of Melbourne Cup week, rebranded as Champions Day.
McDonald and Waller fronted the media on Friday morning to give punters a run-down on their three mares.
Autumn Glow has won 14 of her 15 career starts and is the $1.20 favourite in the Champions Mile. McDonald said everyone at Chris Waller Racing adored her, and that she was the public’s horse. He hoped she could strut her stuff at Flemington. He described her as adaptable to all conditions and tactics, able to handle the Melbourne way of going, and capable of things other horses could not.
Aeliana will contest the Champions Stakes (2000m). Waller said his confidence grew in the last two years with Via Sistina backing up after a tough Cox Plate run, and that Aeliana had come through the Cox Plate well. He said the race gave another chance to say who was the best at the spring, and that turning the tables on Cosmic Crusader would be good.
Joliestar faces The Everest winner Tempted in the Champions Sprint. McDonald said Tempted was a superstar who had the wood on Joliestar, but had never raced up the Flemington straight, leaving a question mark. He hoped they could turn the tables, but acknowledged it was a horse race.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- Champions Day brings together the best horses, trainers and jockeys of the spring in a single meeting, giving punters and racing fans a concentrated showcase of talent.
- Autumn Glow, with her near-perfect record, is chasing another group 1 win and could cement her status as the country’s best horse.
- The results will shape end-of-season honours and breeding values for the mares involved.
Background
Champions Day is the rebranded final meeting of Melbourne Cup week at Flemington, designed to concentrate the spring's top talent in one place. Waller and McDonald have dominated Sydney racing and are aiming to transfer that form to the Flemington straight.
Key Perspectives
- James McDonald: said Autumn Glow was the people’s horse, could do things other horses couldn’t, and that he hoped to turn the tables on Tempted in the Champions Sprint, though Tempted had the wood on Joliestar.
- Chris Waller: said his confidence grew from Via Sistina’s previous Cox Plate back-up, and that Aeliana had come through the Cox Plate well; he welcomed another chance to say who was the best at the spring.
- Danny Russell, racing writer: tips Tempted to win the Champions Sprint, Autumn Glow for the Champions Mile, and Aeliana to turn the tables on Cosmic Crusader in the Champions Stakes.
What to Watch
- Whether Tempted handles the Flemington straight first time; she has never raced down it before.
- Whether Autumn Glow can maintain her unbeaten record and justify $1.20 favouritism.
- Whether Aeliana can reverse the Cox Plate result against Cosmic Crusader after a fresher preparation.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedWaller and McDonald have three Group 1 hopes at Flemington on Champions Day.WA Today - Latest News: “On Saturday, Chris Waller and James McDonald will race three in 80 minutes – Joliestar, Autumn Glow and Aeliana.”
- SupportedAutumn Glow, Aeliana and Joliestar give Waller and McDonald a shot at three races within 80 minutes on Saturday.WA Today - Latest News: “On Saturday, Chris Waller and James McDonald will race three in 80 minutes – Joliestar, Autumn Glow and Aeliana.”
- SupportedThe meeting is the final one of Melbourne Cup week and has been rebranded Champions Day.WA Today - Latest News: “It will be testament to Flemington’s decision to rebrand the final meeting of Melbourne Cup week Champions Day.”
- SupportedWaller and McDonald fronted the media on Friday morning to discuss their three mares.WA Today - Latest News: “Waller and McDonald fronted the media on Friday morning to give punters a run-down on their three great mares.”
- SupportedAutumn Glow had won 14 of her 15 career starts and was the $1.20 favourite in the Champions Mile.WA Today - Latest News: “McDonald said Autumn Glow had become the people’s horse after winning 14 of her 15 career starts.”
- SupportedMcDonald said people at Chris Waller Racing adored Autumn Glow and that she was the public’s horse.WA Today - Latest News: ““Everyone at Chris Waller Racing, they just adore her,” McDonald said. “She’s such a special horse to everyone. She’s not only the owner’s horse, she’s the public’s horse.””
- SupportedMcDonald hoped Autumn Glow could strut her stuff at Flemington and described her as adaptable to conditions and tactics, able to handle the Melbourne way of going, and capable of things other horses could not do.WA Today - Latest News: ““There’s a great expectation with her, and we just hope she can strut her stuff here at Flemington.” Fresh off winning four races on Derby Day, McDonald said Autumn Glow was adaptable to all conditions, all tactics and could handle the Melbourne way of going.”
- SupportedAeliana was to contest the Champions Stakes over 2000 metres.WA Today - Latest News: “Waller has experience winning the Champions Stakes (2000m) and believes he can win a third with Aeliana.”
- SupportedWaller said his confidence had grown over the last two years from Via Sistina backing up after a tough Cox Plate run, and that Aeliana had come through the Cox Plate well.WA Today - Latest News: ““My confidence grew in the last two years with Via Sistina backing up after a tough Cox Plate run,” the trainer said. “Aeliana’s come through it [the Cox Plate] well.””
- SupportedWaller said the race offered another chance to say who was the best in the spring and that turning the tables on Cosmic Crusader would be good.WA Today - Latest News: ““So the beauty of it [is] you get another chance to say who’s the best at the spring. “There’s only one Cox Plate winner, but it’ll be good to turn the tables [on Cosmic Crusader].””
- SupportedJoliestar faced The Everest winner Tempted in the Champions Sprint.WA Today - Latest News: “Sprinting mare Joliestar faces the toughest task of Waller’s three group 1 stars, facing The Everest winner Tempted in the Champions Sprint.”
- SupportedMcDonald called Tempted a superstar who had the wood on Joliestar, noted she had never raced up the Flemington straight, and said he hoped they could turn the tables but that it was a horse race.WA Today - Latest News: ““Tempted is a superstar, and she’s definitely got the wood on Jolie Star,” McDonald said. “But she’s never been up the straight, so there’s that little question mark that we’re gravitating to. “We hope we can turn the tables, but you never know. It’s a horse race.””