Randwick, NSW – April 11, 2026 – The long, triumphant march of Autumn Glow met its definitive end today at Royal Randwick, as Sir Delius surged to victory in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes, halting the mare's twelve-race winning streak. The race, a high-stakes contest over 2000 metres, saw Sir Delius, under jockey Craig Williams, outpace a competitive field, with Lindermann securing second place and Autumn Glow finishing a distant third.
The decisive win marks a significant return to form for Sir Delius, a horse previously sidelined by injury concerns, and decisively ends Autumn Glow's remarkable unbeaten run.
The narrative leading into the Queen Elizabeth Stakes heavily favoured Autumn Glow. Trained by Chris Waller, the four-year-old mare was attempting to extend her flawless record to twelve victories and prove her mettle beyond a mile. She had been the undisputed star attraction, an 'unbeaten' phenomenon in Australian racing.
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Trainer Gai Waterhouse, a co-trainer of Sir Delius with Adrian Bott, had openly expressed confidence in her charge's readiness, despite some prior reservations. Bott had indicated Sir Delius was being targeted for peak performance at his third run back this preparation, a strategy that evidently paid dividends. This victory serves as a potent redemption for Sir Delius, who was declared out of major spring races last year after failing to clear Racing Victoria scans, a setback that threatened to derail his career.
The race itself saw Autumn Glow briefly challenge for the lead, moving into second position. However, reports suggest she struggled with the extended distance, a factor that ultimately proved her undoing. Sir Delius, meanwhile, appeared to be in strong contention throughout the latter stages of the race, a testament to his conditioning and a vindication of the training preparation.
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Race Details and Performances
| Horse | Jockey | Weight | Trainer | Finishing Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sir Delius | Craig Williams | 59kg | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | 1st |
| Lindermann | Nash Rawiller | 59kg | Chris Waller | 2nd |
| Autumn Glow | James McDonald | 57kg | Chris Waller | 3rd |
| Wootton Verni | Tommy Berry | 59kg | Chris Waller | 6th |
Autumn Glow's performance was assessed as faltering over the 2000-metre distance, a marked contrast to Sir Delius's confirmed standing as a premier middle-distance competitor. The sentiment from Waterhouse prior to the race, labelling Sir Delius "the best 2000m horse in Australia," has now found potent affirmation on the track.
Context and History
This outcome represents a significant shift in the racing landscape, with Autumn Glow's unbeaten streak culminating at twelve wins. Her prior successes included the Group 1 Epsom Handicap last spring. Before today's race, Sir Delius had not competed since his wins in the Underwood Stakes and Turnbull Stakes last spring.
Prior to the Queen Elizabeth Stakes, Sir Delius held the highest Timeform rating among locally trained horses this season at 126, achieved when winning the Turnbull Stakes. This rating surpassed other notable horses like Antino and Via Sistina. The only horse in Australia this season to boast a higher rating was Hong Kong's Ka Ying Rising, who achieved 128 in The Everest. The $1 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes is a prestigious Group 1 event, underscoring the significance of this result.
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