Autumn Boy to return to Sydney by Epsom Day 2026

While Autumn Boy began the week in Melbourne, Chris Waller expects the multiple Group 1 winner to be in Sydney on Saturday for the running of the Epsom Handicap at Randwick.

The champion trainer confirmed over the weekend that the historic mile, a Group 1 event worth $1.5 million, was the plan for the Caulfield Guineas and Rosehill Guineas victor.

Autumn Boy’s first two starts this campaign – an eighth in the Memsie Stakes and a second in the Makybe Diva Stakes – were in Melbourne, where he will have his final gallop before heading north after Tuesday morning’s barrier draw.

The trainer indicated that the colt would need to perform exceptionally poorly in his upcoming race for Waller to consider deviating from his plan for the son of The Autumn Sun, with champion jockey James McDonald booked.

“Maybe (if he drew) barrier 20, but when we’re committed to James I’d say he’d come up,” Waller said when asked what would prevent him from running in the Epsom.

“He’s not back from Melbourne, he’s going to gallop there Tuesday and he’s going to come back Wednesday night. I guess there is a five per cent chance I could run him in the Turnbull, but that’s highly unlikely. He’ll run in the Epsom, that’s our plan and James (McDonald) is booked to ride him so that’s showing our hand pretty firmly.”

Autumn Boy was nominated for Saturday’s Turnbull Stakes at Flemington as a safeguard, but Aeliana, Asterix, Buckaroo, Birdman, and O’Hope Wins are more probable contenders from Waller’s stable for that $1 million Group 1.

This weekend, Autumn Boy will aim to improve on his runner-up finish in Randwick’s other major Group 1 mile handicap, the Doncaster Mile, in which he placed second to Sheza Alibi in April this year. He also finished second to the Victorian mare in the Randwick Guineas and at his most recent outing, the 1600m Makybe Diva Stakes on September 12.

Autumn Boy is allocated 55.5kg for the Epsom Handicap, where he is the $3.50 favourite, with unbeaten Kiwi star Well Written ($4.50), Attica ($6), and Ceolwulf ($8) also prominent in the betting.

Consider the current racing odds for the Epsom Handicap at online bookmakers before placing your bets.