Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
With an impressive record from 11 career starts, Autumn Angel secured four victories, including wins at Group 1, Group 2 and Group 3 levels, along with five minor placings. Purchased for $230,000 at the 2022 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale by Wylie Dalziel and Peter Moody, she retires with earnings totaling $1,188,040.
Her career highlights include winning the G3 Ethereal S., which positioned her as a favourite for the G1 Victorian Oaks. However, it was her stunning performance in the G1 Australian Oaks at Randwick that truly showcased her elite talent. There, she defeated formidable contenders such as Zardozi (Kingman {GB}) (G1 VRC Oaks winner) and Orchestral (NZ) (Savabeel) (dual Group 1 winner) in what was hailed as one of the best renewals of the race in decades.
Before her Oaks triumph, Autumn Angel also claimed victory in the G2 Kewney S. and faced tough luck in the G2 Angus Armanasco S., finishing second while carrying 61kg in the G3 Adrian Knox S.
Autumn Angel hails from the Hussonet (USA) mare Angel Of Mercy, owned by Arrowfield. She has two full siblings: a 3-year-old filly named Kindred Spirit, and a recently named 2-year-old filly, Stolen Summer. Kindred Spirit is currently raced by Arrowfield, having been passed in as a yearling.
Her trainer, Peter Moody, praised her exceptional abilities, stating, “I’ve had some good ones, and trust me, this girl was right up there in the top bracket.
“She was a special racehorse who had so much ahead of her on the track, but now it’s time for her to become a mum, and she’ll be one heck of a broodmare.”
“She (Autumn Angel) was a special racehorse who had so much ahead of her on the track, but now it’s time for her to become a mum, and she’ll be one heck of a broodmare.” - Peter Moody
Special from the begining
From the very beginning, Peter Moody had a deep confidence in Autumn Angel’s potential, sensing something extraordinary in the young filly. His early impressions of her were summed up perfectly when he told Wylie Dalziel, “This filly gives me the warm fuzzies. I think she’s special.”
Autumn Angel as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Those words proved prophetic as Autumn Angel continued to impress with each performance, showing the talent and determination that set her apart from the rest. Moody's instinct, honed from years of experience with top-class fillies, was spot on, and Autumn Angel went on to fulfill his belief in her, becoming a standout on the track.
The mare's presence on the track was undeniable, not just for her physical abilities but for the unique spirit she carried. As Daziel fondly reflected, “Autumn Angel was just a special filly. You could tell she wanted to do it for you, to please you. She had this kind nature, but she was also a fierce competitor, always giving her best.”
“Autumn Angel was just a special filly. You could tell she wanted to do it for you, to please you. She had this kind nature, but she was also a fierce competitor, always giving her best.” - Wylie Dalziel
Autumn Angel's triumph in the Australian Oaks marked a few significant milestones; a first Group 1 winner for her sire, The Autumn Sun and also for the longstanding partnership between Wylie Dalziel and Peter Moody. After collaborating for over 15 years, the filly's victory became their first Group 1 win together, symbolizing the strength of their bond and shared vision.
Reflecting on the moment, Dalziel shared, “She was our first Group 1 winner together with Peter Moody as her trainer. We'd been working together for nearly 15 years, and when he returned to training, she was the horse we both picked and worked with. It was a very special moment for us.” This win not only highlighted Autumn Angel's brilliance but also celebrated the enduring trust and teamwork between the two horsemen.
Wylie Daziel and Peter Moody | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
As Autumn Angel transitions from her remarkable racing career to her new role as a broodmare, her connections are optimistic about the future.
Daziel and Moody have always aimed to buy fillies with the potential to follow a path like hers—achieving greatness on the track before passing those exceptional traits onto their offspring.
Reflecting on her legacy, Dalziel remarked, “We try to buy fillies hoping they’ll do exactly what Autumn Angel has done, and eventually produce champions as broodmares. We would love to see her offspring go on to great things, and we’d definitely be open to purchasing from her in the future... if we can afford to.”
“We would love to see her (Autumn Angel's) offspring go on to great things, and we’d definitely be open to purchasing from her in the future... if we can afford to.” - Wylie Daziel
With her pedigree and proven talent, there is every hope that Autumn Angel’s lineage will continue to make an impact, producing future champions that can carry on her legacy.
The remarkable legacy of Oaks winners at stud
The pedigree appeal of Oaks winners at stud is notable, with many having produced successful offspring. Since 2000, Oaks-winning mares have seen significant success, with 14 per cent producing Group 1 winners and 36 per cent producing stakes winners.
Oaks winners boast an impressive stud record, particularly those from the Australian Oaks.
Autumn Angel | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Since 2000, notable examples include Rising Romance (NZ) (Ekraar {USA}), who has produced G1 Thousand Guineas winner Yearning (Snitzel); Dizelle (Zabeel {NZ}), the dam of G1 VRC Oaks winner Pinot (Pierro); Sunday Joy (Sunday Silence {USA}), who produced eight-time Group 1 winner More Joyous (NZ) (More Than Ready {USA}); and Republic Lass (Canny Lad), who sired Group 1 winner The Conglomerate.
In general, Oaks winners in Australia have gone on to produce prominent Group 1 winners such as Anamoe, Stay With Me (Street Cry {Ire}), and Miami Bound (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}).
Inglis Bloodstock CEO Sebastian Hutch expressed excitement for potential investors, stating, “Autumn Angel has consistently impressed throughout her career. Her race record doesn’t fully reflect her ability, but she possesses a pedigree that includes Redoute’s Choice, Galileo, and Hussonet, making her an appealing prospect for breeders.”
“... she (Autumn Angel) possesses a pedigree that includes Redoute’s Choice, Galileo, and Hussonet, making her an appealing prospect for breeders.” - Sebastian Hutch
Autumn Angel was recently retired due to a tendon injury and will be presented as a breeding prospect in the upcoming auction. The catalogue for the sale will go live at inglisdigital.com on Friday afternoon, September 27, with bidding opening at 9am AEDT on Monday, September 30. The final countdown of bidding will begin at 4pm AEDT on Tuesday, October 1.
For those interested in inspecting Autumn Angel, Inglis’ Victorian Bloodstock Manager James Price can be contacted at 0409 806 595.
