Promising filly The Autumn Belle ($1.70) swept aside her opposition at Seymour on Wednesday to record a dominant maiden win over 1600-metres. It was the three-year-old’s first try at a mile, where jockey Madison Lloyd was forced back to last from an outside gate in the early stages. Lloyd didn’t panic, happy to settle the filly into a nice rhythm before her hand was forced by tiring runners in front. The daughter of The Autumn Sun was set alight at the 600-metre mark, cruising around the field to join the frontrunners at the top of the straight, taking over soon after. The race was over in a matter of strides as the flashy chestnut showed she was much better than the rivals on offer, Lloyd sitting up for the photo two-and-a-half lengths to the good of the second-placed horse. “She was very impressive today”, the young hoop said post-race. “She’s going to make a very nice horse”.
Lloyd mentioned there was some greenness to her racing in the concluding stages, thoughts echoed by Henry in the aftermath. “She almost got there (the front) too soon. And once she got there she just rolled in and wandered about, and just waited for them I’d say”, Henry said.
“Given she relaxes so well, she’s just going to be so good with blinkers at some stage”.
“The only way is up with her”.
Henry indicated he would further step his filly up in distance next start – likely in two-to-three weeks – aiming to get another win on the board before having a short let-up in the paddock.
The Autumn Belle took just three goes to break her maiden status, running third at her two other spaced starts, either side of a spell.