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By Ray Hickson

Hong Kong couldn’t buy him and his trainer is taken aback by the interest in him - Autumn Break is a horse turning heads as his unbeaten record goes on the line at Randwick on Saturday.

Trainer Kym Davison (Pic: Border Mail).

The three-year-old is currently $6 second favourite with TAB for the $1 million Evergreen Turf Country Championships Final on the back of his three wins in the southern districts and trainer Kym Davison is ready to put him to the test in the TAB Highway (1200m).

Davison has been there before with Canny Hell, a close relation to Autumn Break, winning the SDRA Championships last year before finishing midfield in the Final but it seems interest in this gelding is at another level.

“I’m getting calls from left, right, and centre. He’s caught the imagination so hopefully he performs like what everyone’s expecting from him,’’ Davison said.

“I’ve had some handy ones over my time but this one, he keeps raising the bar every time we go around with him so it’ll be interesting to see how he goes.”

Autumn Break, who cost $40,000 as a yearling, hasn’t been beaten in a trial or a race so it’s no surprise Hong Kong came calling.

Davison said the money was interesting but ultimately nowhere near enough to entice the large ownership group, many of whom are also in Canny Hell, to part ways with a horse he feels can take them to some good races over the next few years.

“We’ve knocked back quite substantial offers, he’s got to win a few races shall we say to break square,’’ Davison said.

“There’s 18 owners in the horse, and one group has six and a group of ten, and yes the money was good but when you break it all down it wasn’t going to be life changing.

“We thought in time he’d be an Albury or Wagga Cup horse for us but he’s coming out and doing this so we’ll worry about that later on.

“We’ve been in horses for years and have a promising one, it’s very exciting for everyone, so we’ll enjoy the ride hopefully.”

The TAB Highway could double as a mini-Country Championships preview with a number of contenders from across the state converging on Randwick to prepare for their respective qualifying races.

Some consideration was given to keeping Autumn Break at home to race on Thursday but Davison said both he and the horse will learn a bit more by making the trip to Sydney.

Apprentice Brittany Button has been on board the three-year-old in all his three starts and two trials but Tim Clark takes the reins for his Highway debut.

The Albury trainer said he’s done everything right in the build up and sees no reason why he won’t be making his presence felt.

“He’s improved a lot from his first prep, which all horses do, he’s naturally a little bit stronger,’’ he said.

“He’s not the biggest horse but he’s quite solid.

“His trial the other day blew me away over the 900m, he showed that turn of foot. He jumped, travelled strong and put three lengths on Sparring who has won the last three Flat Knackers here.

“I normally get belted with the barrier draws so I was very happy when we drew seven.

Autumn Break wins an Albury trial on January 19

“It’s very exciting for everyone involved and hopefully the horse continues on the way he is.”

The $150,000 Evergreen Turf Southern Districts Country Championships (1400m) is run at Wagga Wagga on February 28.

Canny Hell remains eligible for the Country Championships but with 20 starts and five wins will have to contest the Wagga race first-up.

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday’s meeting at Randwick