Price tag could halt Royal Ascot trip for The Autumn Sun

The Autumn Sun has been inoculated for Royal Ascot but the colt's incredible value as a future stallion is once again the sticking point.

On Tuesday it was announced The Autumn Sun would not be running in the inaugural $5 million All-Star Mile, in which he would have been the horse to beat, because, among other considerations, victory in the race would not enhance his breeding value.

Now, managing part-owner John Messara has told Sky Racing's The Road To The Championships that the colt's value was also likely to halt any plans for a Royal Ascot trip, where victory would set up the horse's future as a dual-hemisphere stallion.

"I'm not certain this is the horse we can do it with because he is potentially so valuable," Messara said about a possible Royal Ascot tilt.

"We have had to pay a huge amount to buy into him, I'd be worried about the dangers, not of getting beaten so much, but of sickness, travel sickness and that sort of thing happening.

"He is our replacement for the great Redoute's Choice, who is a rising 22-year-old this year – I've got to protect him (The Autumn Sun) in any way that I can.

"Having said that, if he goes through and is very dominant, it is attractive to carry on a bit."

A three-time Group 1 winner from just six starts, The Autumn Sun kicks off his much-awaited autumn campaign in Saturday's Group 2 Hobartville Stakes at Rosehill and Messara confirmed his schedule would include the $1m Randwick Guineas, before a decision is made as to which race he would take on his elders in.

Messara said that history shows the great colts have been able to beat older horses at weight-for-age in the autumn before they are retired to stud.

The Autumn Sun has opened up a strong favourite to beat his eight Hobartville rivals over seven furlongs on Saturday despite coming into the race after two uninspiring trials.

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