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Is The Autumn Sun’s former trainer the man to end the stallion’s string of classic successes?
The recent success of The Autumn Sun's progeny has given Chris Waller a few 'proud Dad' moments, although far from championing the stallion's success this weekend, Waller will be trying to halt his classic run in the Queensland Derby.
Having overseen the horse's illustrious racing career, Waller has been chuffed to watch The Autumn Sun getting results as a sire with three of his daughters capturing majors in the past two months.
Autumn Angel became the Arrowfield Stud resident's first Group 1 winner in the ATC Australian Oaks, Vibrant Sun led home a trifecta for him in the Australasian Oaks before Coco Sun landed the SA Derby.
Waller says watching his former charge forge a successful stud career has been enormously satisfying.
"I'm not amazed, because we backed him from the start, but just proud to see the types come through," Waller said.
"Coming into mature age, they are what you'd expect.
"Not all stallions do it, but I've just come back from the Magic Millions mares' sale and they were all talking about him."
The Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman-trained Autumn Angel will bid to keep The Autumn Sun's hot streak going when she lines up as favourite in Saturday's Queensland Derby (2400m).
Ironically, it is the Waller-trained Tannhauser, a son of another noted Arrowfield stallion in Dundeel, who is regarded as her biggest threat.
Tannhauser claimed the filly's scalp in the Rough Habit Plate (2000m), his first win as a gelding and, Waller believes, an important confidence boost.
"I think he proved to himself he could do it, and he proved to us he could do it," Waller said.
"He and us have got a bit more confidence and it's the right confidence going into a Group One race."
Waller will be chasing his fourth Queensland Derby and third in the past four years having previously won it with Kovalica (2023), Kukeracha (2021) and Hawkspur (2013).
Moody has captured it twice with Brambles (2012) and Riva San (2008), the latter one of seven fillies to have triumphed in the staying feature with Autumn Angel bidding to become the eighth.
