Golden Slipper Day of 2026 will be remembered as one of Sydney’s - and Arrowfield's - most spectacular days at the track.
It will go down in Australian turf history as the day Champion jockey James McDonald worked with the progeny of two brilliant young Arrowfield sires to equal, then exceed Damien Oliver’s Group 1 riding record, setting his own new mark of 131.
He did it with three consecutive Group 1 victories.
Firstly aboard Aeliana (by Castelvecchio) in the $1 million Ranvet S. 2000m G1.
Next it was the 3yo colt Autumn Boy (by The Autumn Sun), who decisively added the $750,000 Rosehill Guineas 2000m Gr1 to his Caulfield Guineas Gr1 win last Spring.
Then McDonald jumped aboard Arrowfield & Hermitage Thoroughbreds’ super mare Autumn Glow (by The Autumn Sun) to defeat 7 Group 1 winners by almost 3 lengths in the $1 million George Ryder S. 1500m G1, the third Group 1 victory of her undefeated 11 starts, 11 wins, $8,169,000 career.
But Arrowfield Stud Sires certainly weren’t finished on the day.
Snitzel, the four-time Champion Sire, and current Premiership leader had already added a new stakes winner at Rosehill when 3YO gelding Beskar (ex Sword Of Light by New Approach (Galileo)) took out the $200,000 Darby Munro S. 1200m LR.
Beskar was a $600,000 Inglis Easter buy. In the same event Caffe Florian (Snitzel) finished an eye catching, fast finishing third.
Across the ditch in New Zealand, Snitzel’s Arrowfield graduate 3YO daughter Origin Of Love scored an all-the-way win in the NZ$250,000 Wellington Guineas 1600m Gr2.
Back at Rosehill, 3yo filly Marhoona, also from Snitzel’s 2022 crop, emulated Hall of Fame racehorse Luskin Star when adding the $1 million Galaxy 1100m Gr1 to her 2025 Golden Slipper Gr1 win.
Also on the day at Rosehill, Dundeel’s daughter Polymina was runner-up in the 1900m Epona S., Gr3.
Whilst at Caulfield, Maurice progeny had a good day as he saw his daughter Classic Gem finish runner-up in the 1600m Alexandra S., Gr3, whilst back at Rosehill Maurice’s multi-millionaire son Mazu was third to Marhoona in the Gr1 Galaxy.
A few minutes later at Ascot in Western Australia, 2YO filly Aurum Belle (ex Dame Giselle by I Am Invincible) became Snitzel’s 170th career stakes winner, and his 15th SW this season, with a two-length victory in the $125,000 Supremacy S. 1000m LR. It’s her second win in two starts for the $725,000 purchase from Inglis Easter 2025.
That made 7 black type success stories and 3 stakes placings for Arrowfield Stud stallions in four hours, including 4 of the 5 Group 1 features at Rosehill Gardens.
AUTUMN GLOW, AUTUMN BOY, MARHOONA, AELIANA, ORIGIN OF LOVE, BESKAR, AURUM BELLE and Stakes Placegetters POLYMINA, CAFFE FLORIAN, MAZU whilst the afternoon prior PLYMOUTH (The Autumn Sun) was runner-up in the Albury Cup, a Listed Race at 2000m.
It again proves Arrowfield Stud are at the pinnacle of the Australian breeding industry and produce the Best of the Best when it comes to breeding black type horses.
Dynamic Syndications have deliberately purchased 4 yearling fillies from the Arrowfield Stud draft in 2026.
Among our acquisitions we have secured 2 yearling fillies at the Magic Millions,
Lot 618 by SNITZEL ex NORDIQUE (GB) Rating: A 169%
Lot 700 by THE AUTUMN SUN ex PRINCESS NOIR (JPN). Rating: A 386%
Then at the Inglis Classic we purchased 2 fillies by:
Lot 1 DUNDEEL ex FAIROUZ (USA) Rating: A+++
Lot 393 MAURICE ex SCANDALEUSE (USA). Rating: A+++
Each filly is from a mare who was bred overseas and has a strong black type page. They are the result of being purposely bred by Arrowfield to a genetic cross that works best with their dam’s sireline.
The Australian General Sires List sees the late champion Snitzel widening his lead over barnmate The Autumn Sun.
Both are sons of legendary Arrowfield Stud breed shaper Redoute’s Choice.
A Perfect Autumn Glow Now Eleven From Eleven After Gr1 George Ryder Romp
Undefeated Autumn Glow went on her winning way in emphatic fashion to go eleven from eleven when winning the $1million Gr1 ATC George Ryder Stakes (1500m). James McDonald rode her to victory to secure his 131st Gr1 winner
As the second leg of a Gr1 race-to-race double for The Autumn Sun at Rosehill on Saturday, glamour mare Autumn Glow remained unbeaten.
With a hot early tempo McDonald allowed Autumn Glow to settle just in behind the speed.
Into the home straight, McDonald angled out on Autumn Glow and dashed to the front with a furlong to go.
She just kept extending to win by a widening two and a quarter lengths, taking her race career to a perfect 11 from 11 and $8,169,000 in earnings.
James McDonald knows what a special mare she is when he said: “It was evident in the week when Chris said you'll see something special, so when he says that I take notice because her work's been phenomenal.
“It doesn't matter what is in the race. She's just got an amazing, sustained speed, it's quite incredible what we're witnessing. She's the jockey's dream - you get nervous on horses, certain horses throughout your life, and she's one you don't."
Autumn Glow topped the 2023 Inglis Easter yearling sale selling for $1.8m from the draft of Silverdale Farm to Arrowfield Stud and Hermitage Thoroughbreds.
One of two individual Gr1 winners from three to race from the multiple Gr1 winner and Champion South African Sprinter Via Africa (by Var), Autumn Glow is a three-quarter-sister to Newgate Farm’s Gr1 ATC Golden Rose Stakes Winner In The Congo (by Snitzel).
The Autumn Sun has five individual Gr1 winners headed by Autumn Glow.
It was back-to-back Gr1 wins for The Autumn Sun.
The race prior was the Gr1 Rosehill Guineas, and it was won by Autumn Boy.
Prior to the efforts of Autumn Glow, history was achieved at Rosehill as 3yo colt Autumn Boy (The Autumn Sun) recorded his second Gr1 level victory, when winning the Gr1 ATC Rosehill Guineas (2000m), giving Champion jockey James McDonald his 130th Gr1 success.
Coming off a second in the Gr1 ATC Randwick Guineas (1600m), punters saw it as a match race between Autumn Boy the Gr1 Caulfield Guineas winner and Observer a last start Gr1 Australian Guineas winner, and the boys started the top two in the betting.
Craig Williams had Observer travelling second whilst Autumn Boy settled in fifth in the eight-horse field. Bingi was controlling the race in front and led the field into the home turn. Observer was off the bit and McDonald on Autumn Boy sailed past, pulling clear to win by 1.9 lengths. Green Spaces worked home to finished second, 0.8 length in front of Observer.
Autumn Boy was being tried over 2000m for the first time and as expected handled the trip with ease.
Autumn Boy emulated the feat of his champion sire The Autumn Sun in claiming the Rosehill Guineas.
McDonald said, “It’s lovely, but it’s a testament to the horses that I ride because they are phenomenal.
“There’s no two ways about it, that I do ride the best horses and most favourites each race and I’m blessed to have that opportunity.”
“To get to a mark like this, it’s obviously special. Especially with how I look up to Damien Oliver.”
“When I was growing up as a ten-year-old kid, he was riding Melbourne Cup winners. One that comes to mind is Media Puzzle when he went through so much adversity and still had the vivacity to come out on top. He’s a phenomenal rider.”
“I’m just blessed with a great family and great support crew with Mark Guest and good family friends. John O’Shea, who is like a father figure to me. He got me over and he gave me so many chances even when I wasn’t riding well. Many trainers throughout Australia and New Zealand as well. I’m just humbled by the support. To be honest, I flicked social media off this week and just focused on my rides.”
Taking his overall record to four wins, twice at Gr1 level, and three placings from eight starts with earnings of $2,673,500, the colt was a $200,000 purchase at the Magic Millions.
Autumn Boy is one of 21 stakes performers for his Arrowfield Stud based The Autumn Sun (Redoute's Choice).
The Autumn Sun covered his largest ever book of mares during the spring, with 178 mares covered at a fee of $66,000 (inc. GST).
Ten lots by The Autumn Sun will be offered at the upcoming Inglis Easter yearling sale.