Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
After a $1.225 million outlay, Vin Cox believes he has picked up a bargain in outstanding Group 1-winning mare, Autumn Angel (The Autumn Sun).
Purchased with the 38th bid in Inglis Digital’s The Autumn Angel Sale on Tuesday, the 4-year-old was bought by Walnut Farm from Dalziel Racing.
Trained by Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman, Autumn Angel secured four victories from 11 starts, including wins at Group 1, Group 2 and Group 3 levels.
Autumn Angel | Image courtesy of Inglis Digital
Bought for $230,000 at the 2022 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale by Wylie Dalziel and Moody, she retired with earnings totalling $1,188,040, after a tendon injury ruled her out of her upcoming spring campaign.
Autumn Angel’s highlight came via her stunning performance in the G1 Australian Oaks at Randwick on April 13, when she beat formidable contenders Zardozi (Kingman {GB}) (G1 VRC Oaks winner) and Orchestral (NZ) (Savabeel) (dual G1 winner).
“She won in my opinion the strongest Australian Oaks of the past decade or so, as evident in the race,” Cox said.
“The VRC Oaks winner was second and the champion filly from New Zealand was third, and previously she won a G1 in Australia.
“So those form lines were particularly outstanding.
“I think she’s been extremely well bought on the market. She’s an elite stakes performer.”
“She (Autumn Angel) won in my opinion the strongest Australian Oaks of the past decade or so... I think she’s been extremely well bought on the market.” - Vin Cox
Moody’s million-dollar phone call
Cox revealed to The Thoroughbred Report that Moody rang him saying Autumn Angel would be going to auction, before it became public knowledge.
Vin Cox | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“Peter actually called me last week and told me that she was going to come on the market, so we started doing a bit of work on her,” he said.
“And we then just waited for the process to roll out as it did. And I’m kind of surprised at the price we bought her at.
“If you compare the price of her to similar mares in the past 12 months, I think she represents good value.”
“If you compare the price of her (Autumn Angel) to similar mares in the past 12 months, I think she represents good value.” - Vin Cox
Dalziel said he was “rapt” with the result for his bloodstock team.
“It’s all happened very fast,” he said. “The ownership group are rapt with the result, although understandably we didn’t envisage selling her so soon.
“This time last week we were disappointed and in shock when we received the news from the stable about her injury,” Daziel said. “But as the manager I had to move quickly, and I must thank Sebastian (Hutch), James (Price) and the team at Inglis for facilitating such a quick turnaround.
“There are nine owners, including some long-time clients, and they all were quick to back the decision to offer her as a breeding prospect, and she was put in front of all the right people with Inglis Digital.”
Wylie Daziel and Peter Moody | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
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, Stolen Summer.
Cox said Yulong had not yet come up with any plans on who Autumn Angel would be bred to.
“We haven’t really got to that part yet at this early stage. Until you own these elite mares, you don’t really make a plan until they’re in your backyard, so to speak,” he said.
Autumn Angel joins elite broodmares such as Alcohol Free (Ire) (No Nay Never {USA}), Away Game (Snitzel), Duais (Shamus Award), Espiona (Extreme Choice), Icebath (NZ) (Sacred Falls {NZ}), Imperatriz (I Am Invincible), Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands) and Montefilia (Kermadec {NZ}) among others at the Yulong organisation.
Her sire The Autumn Sun was a star of his generation – the five-time Group 1 winner at two and three was the best racing colt by Redoute’s Choice, and now also the sire of fellow Group winners Coco Sun, Vibrant Sun and Autumn Glow.
The Autumn Sun | Standing at Arrowfield Stud
“She (Autumn Angel) is a very good mare to get, and she won’t be out of place on our farm,” Cox said. “We’re happy to get her.”
Last Wednesday, when Moody announced Autumn Angel would be going to auction, he paid her the ultimate compliment.
“I’ve had some good ones and trust me, this girl was right up there in the top bracket,” he said.
“She was a special racehorse who had so much ahead of her on the track but instead, it’s now time for her to become a mum and she’ll be one heck of a broodmare, mark my words.”
“I’ve had some good ones and trust me, this girl (Autumn Angel) was right up there in the top bracket.” - Peter Moody
Last September, Dalziel Bloodstock sold Group 2 winner Boogie Dancer (Sooboog) – a $50,000 Inglis Premier yearling – for $560,000 on Inglis Digital.
“That’s a combined outlay of $280,000 on two fillies – who we had great fun with on the racetrack – for a return of $1.785 million through Inglis Digital,” Dalziel said.
“From limited selections, Moods and I have enjoyed great success buying future black-type fillies with Inglis.
“We hope that in three years time we can purchase a yearling from Autumn Angel at an Inglis sale.”
“We hope that in three years time we can purchase a yearling from Autumn Angel at an Inglis sale.” - Wylie Daziel
Autumn Angel was the 10th lot to sell for $1 million or more on Inglis Digital since 2021, and the 92nd lot to realise $100,000 or more on the platform in 2024.
