This code can be added to the setter of the component from where you want to access the saved search of the af:query panel

QueryModel qm = (QueryModel)evaluateEL("#{bindings.<searchRegionFromThePageDef>.queryModel}");
for(int indexCount=0; indexCount<qm.getUserQueries().size();indexCount++)
{
 QueryDescriptor qd = qm.getUserQueries().get(indexCount);
 if(qd!=null){
 String queryDescriptorName = qd.getName();
 System.out.println(queryDesctiptorName);
 m = qd.getUIHints();
 isDefault = (Boolean) m.get(QueryDescriptor.UIHINT_DEFAULT);
 isRunAutomatically = (Boolean) m.get(QueryDescriptor.UIHINT_AUTO_EXECUTE);

 if (Boolean.TRUE.equals(isDefault) && Boolean.TRUE.equals(isRunAutomatically){
 //code goes here
 }
 else{
 //else code
 }
 }
}

quick walk through..

• Getting the handle to QueryModel
• Iterating through the userQueries. ie. the Saved Searches
• Get handle to the QueryDescriptor
• get handle to UIHints from the QueryDescriptor
• check for QueryDescriptor.UIHINT_DEFAULT and QueryDescriptor.UIHINT_AUTO_EXECUTE and implement the logic based on the value obtained.