The partnership between the Aga Khan Studs and Arrowfield Stud reaped rich rewards at the weekend as The Autumn Sun, bred jointly by the two operations, lifted the Group 1 JJ Atkins Plate.

By star Australian sire Redoute’s Choice, The Autumn Sun is a son of Azmiyna, an unraced Galileo half-sister to the much-missed top-class performer and sire Azamour, and to juvenile Group 2 scorer and sire Arazan. The pedigree boasts further depth with the presence of Group 1 winner Astarabad under The Autumn Sun’s third dam Anaza (Darshaan).

The colt was winning his third consecutive victory in as many outings when recording his impressive success in the Group 1 contest over a mile at Doomben, and he will now be aimed towards the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas, a race won by his sire in 1999. Trainer Chris Waller said of The Autumn Sun: “It was only his third race start and just to see him dig so deep and pull away from the third and fourth horses, it showed how smart he is… Only certain people and horses can take that step so quick and excel.”

The Autumn Sun was bought by agent Guy Mulcaster for Aus$700,000 on behalf of current connections at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale in 2017. His three-quarter sister, out of Azmiyna and by Redoute’s Choice’s stallion son Snitzel, topped the opening day of this year’s edition of the sale when changing hands for Aus$1.3 million, and she joined the same stable.

The Autumn Sun is the second Group 1 winner produced by the joint venture of the Aga Khan Studs and Arrowfield Stud, following the success of Whisky Baron in the Gr.1 Sun Met at Kenilworth, one of the most prestigious contests of the South African calendar. Whisky Baron is a son of Manhattan Rain and Sinndar broodmare Tazkara.