Craig Kerry
A couple of days after reaffirming her standing as Australia’s finest with victory over Sheza Alibi within the group 1 Winx Stakes (1400m), Autumn Glow was topped champion racehorse of 2025-26 on an enormous evening for part-owners Arrowfield Stud.
As anticipated, Autumn Glow was a transparent winner of the main prize on the Australian Racehorse of the Yr awards on Thursday evening at Royal Randwick.
The Chris Waller-trained star received three group 1s in 2025-26 in addition to the $10 million Golden Eagle for four-year-olds, which has since been elevated to the highest stage. Her solely loss in eight begins final season was a 3rd to complete the marketing campaign within the Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
The judging panel of racing media, handicappers and kind analysts gave Autumn Glow 110 votes, placing her forward of Caulfield and Melbourne cups winner Half Yours (69), Doncaster champion Sheza Alibi (67), 2024-25 horse of the 12 months Through Sistina (66) and Queen Elizabeth Stakes victor Sir Delius (65).
Autumn Glow additionally received the middle-distance class, polling 114 votes to beat Through Sistina (101) and Sir Delius (97).
A call on whether or not Autumn Glow now heads in the direction of the $20 million Everest (1200m) or mile targets is anticipated within the coming days.
One other progeny of Arrowfield sire The Autumn Solar, Autumn Boy, claimed probably the most hotly contested award, the champion three-year-old colt or gelding. The Caulfield and Rosehill Guineas winner earned 136 votes, edging out Tentyris by solely six in an inventory of nominees with two group 1s wins for the season every.
Arrowfield’s Snitzel, which was euthanised in June 2025 at age 22, was named champion sire after his progeny earned $26 million final season. Snitzel had six particular person group 1 winners – Fireball, Campione D’Italia, Lazzura, Marhoona, Transatlantic and Baraqiel – which was probably the most by any sire since Redoute’s Alternative in 2005-06.
One other Waller stablemate, Joliestar, was named champion sprinter. The TJ Smith and Canterbury Stakes winner earned 142 votes to complete effectively away from Godolphin pair Tempted (65) and Tentyris (52).
The Ciaron Maher-trained Tempted, which was second within the Everest, was additionally runner-up within the three-year-old fillies class, which two-time group 1 champion Sheza Alibi claimed 197 votes to 118.
Golden Slipper winner Visitor Home was champion two-year-old with 191 votes, forward of Slipper runner-up and Blue Diamond Stakes winner Streisand (98).
The Tony and Calvin McEvoy-trained Half Yours was a straightforward selection as champion stayer, incomes 195 votes. Subsequent finest was Aeliana on 122.
Waller acquired his 14th consecutive Bart Cummings Award as champion group 1 coach after 22 elite wins, smashing his personal Australian file of 19 and going previous 200 in his profession. He additionally received a fifteenth Bart Cummings Medal as a part of the NSW awards on the similar operate. Waller gained 148 factors, ending forward of jockeys James McDonald (91) and Zac Lloyd (79).
McDonald was additionally recognised for his record-breaking feats, taking out the Australian champion group 1 jockey title for the sixth successive 12 months. The 34-year-old surpassed Malcolm Johnston’s 1979-80 Australian file of 16 group 1 wins in a season, going to 17 in a marketing campaign through which he surged previous Damien Oliver’s Australasian profession benchmark of 129.
NSW Racehorse House owners award winners: Visitor Home (champion two-year-old); Sheza Alibi (champion three-year-old); Joliestar (champion sprinter); Autumn Glow (champion miler); Sir Delius (center distance horse); Aeliana (champion stayer); Idle Flyer (queen of the autumn); Bianco Vilano (nation champion horse); Changingoftheguard (provincial champion horse); Autumn Glow (champion horse of the 12 months)