Chris Waller is confident Autumn Glow can push a remarkable unbeaten streak into double figures and deliver a record-extending 12th victory for his powerhouse stable when the star mare contests the G1 Verry Elleegant Stakes (1600m) at Royal Randwick in Sydney, Australia on Saturday (28 February).

Formerly known as the Chipping Norton Stakes, the Verry Elleegant Stakes – named in honour of Waller’s G1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) victor – has been dominated by the New Zealand trainer since 2011 with stars such as four-time winner Winx, Via Sistina and Verry Elleegant herself.

A Group 1 winner, Autumn Glow is already being compared to Winx, winner of a world-record 25 Group 1 races, after triumphing in the G1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) and AU$10 million Golden Eagle (1500m) last preparation.

The four-year-old demolished her opposition when resuming in the G2 Apollo Stakes (1400m) on 14 February, easily dispatching five fellow individual Group 1 winners, prompting Waller to ponder the heights Autumn Glow might eventually reach.

“I don’t know where her ceiling is and that is exciting,” Waller said. “We keep referring to Winx and we didn’t expect her to keep going (33 wins in a row). We are taking it one race at a time because racing can level you very quickly.”

Competing at weight-for-age level, Autumn Glow will again be partnered by James McDonald.

Autumn Glow’s imposing presence aside, Waller is also numerically dominant with seven runners in the nine-horse field, including Aeliana, Lindermann, Trinity College, Wootton Verni, Soul Of Spain and Valiant King.

Winner of the 2025 G1 ATC Australian Derby (2400m), Aeliana impressed Waller by finishing stoutly for second – 2.66 lengths behind Autumn Glow – in the Apollo Stakes.

“For Aeliana to be able to fight it out with one of the country’s best sprinter-milers in Autumn Glow was pretty encouraging,” Waller said. “She has come back well, she is more mature and has held onto her weight this preparation.”

Waller is keen to monitor the performance of touted galloper Trinity College, who is a G1 placegetter in France and winner of the G3 Hampton Court Stakes (1993m) at Royal Ascot in 2025.

“Trinity College is an exciting European horse,” Waller said. “We could have run him first-up at 1400m but decided to keep him for the mile (Verry Elleegant Stakes).”

Trained by Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott, high-class import Sir Delius resumes in the Verry Elleegant Stakes and Bott concedes Autumn Glow will be tough to topple.

“Autumn Glow is a remarkable mare,” Bott said. “She will be very hard to beat.”

“He (Sir Delius) has had three trials, and we are very pleased with him. Naturally, he is going to improve with race fitness. His main targets are the 2000m Group 1 races, the Ranvet Stakes and Queen Elizabeth Stakes.”

The Verry Elleegant Stakes is carded as S2-2 and will be run at 1.40pm (Hong Kong time) on Saturday, 28 February.