Randwick trials see Waller's stars return

A significant contingent of Chris Waller's established racehorses, prominently featuring the acclaimed mare Autumn Glow, commenced their spring preparations at Randwick on Monday morning.

The initial three trials, all conducted over 900 metres on the Kensington track following a postponement from Friday due to wet conditions, showcased numerous Group 1 winners from the Waller stable.

Autumn Glow crossed the line in third position behind the impressive winner Napoleonic in the first heat. Ten minutes later, another top mare, Aeliana, finished fourth in a trial captured by stablemate Barnavara.

These trials are taking place over a month before their intended race comebacks. Autumn Glow is earmarked for a return in the $1 million Group 1 Winx Stakes (1400m) on August 22. Waller indicated that the fitness regimes for his horses would become more rigorous in the weeks ahead.

"The Winx Stakes is about five weeks away, so we've still got a long way to go," Waller explained. "They will only start to get tuned up after their second trial. It's all about blowing the cobwebs out and making sure everything is good, keeping them mentally right, and being ahead of it."

During her trial, Autumn Glow initially showed speed before jockey James McDonald restrained her to settle second last, ahead of only her stablemate Autumn Boy. She maintained this position until the final 200 metres, at which point she was encouraged by McDonald to improve, narrowly securing third place over stablemate Lady Shenandoah.

James McDonald also rode Aeliana, who coasted to the finish in her respective trial, with the horses largely holding their order throughout the workout. She was beaten 4-1/4 lengths by Barnavara, whose sole Australian appearance was a fourth in the Neville Sellwood Stakes (2000m) when ridden by McDonald.

While Kerrin McEvoy piloted Aeliana in Monday's trial, Waller mentioned that McDonald had been instrumental in her recent training, and his feedback had significantly elevated expectations for the French Group 1 victor's return.

"She has put on about thirty kilos, so she looks like an Australian horse," Waller remarked. "James is rapt. He says she feels like a completely different horse. That's exciting."

The Waller-trained Wootton Verni finished second in the second trial, which also featured the dual Oaks winner Ohope Wins, who finished just behind Aeliana.

In the third trial, McDonald was also aboard the imported galloper Soulcombe, who despite a history of injuries, finished strongly to claim third place, less than a length behind the winner, Screen Icon. Soulcombe has been hampered by tendon issues in recent seasons and has not competed since his second placing in the 2023 Melbourne Cup behind Without A Fight.

More of Waller's prominent horses are scheduled to trial at Warwick Farm on Tuesday, with Angel Capital, Beiwacht, Campione D'Italia, and Fireball set to have their first trials of the campaign in a 900m event on the main track.

Betting markets for the upcoming races are already shaping up, with many punters looking at racing betting markets.