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By Ray Hickson

All eyes might be on the clash between two Group 1 winning fillies in Saturday’s $750,000 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill but trainer Katherine Coleman certainly isn’t being distracted as she aims Autumn Angel at upsetting the applecart.

The Kiwi Orchestral and Godolphin’s Zardozi strangle the market and the talk around the Group 1 fillies feature and Coleman, who co-trains with Peter Moody, respects that.

But she says Autumn Angel is heading the right way towards an Oaks target with two runs back and an impressive win in the Kewney three weeks ago.

“It’s a classy field but we couldn’t be happier with how she is heading into it,’’ Coleman said.

“She’s a lovely progressive filly, she’s come back really nice this preparation.

“She had an unlucky first-up run then we saw how good she was last start, and she seems to have come on from that so we’re very excited.

“She’s coping well with her work, she looks fantastic and we’re really happy with her.”

Autumn Angel has raced once at 2000m and she claimed the scalp of Tropical Squall, in the Ethereal Stakes back in the spring, and that filly has since won at Group 1 level.

Coleman said the quality of the Vinery field has to be acknowledged but is confident Autumn Angel, who has only raced seven times, still has plenty of upside.

Autumn Angel too strong in the Kewney Stakes 💪 @moodyracingpgm pic.twitter.com/wPdg4samVV

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) March 9, 2024

“You have to focus on what you can control, which is your horse and your horse’s preparation,’’ she said.

“There’s no point losing sleep over the other horses in the race.

“She’s a filly that hopefully is going to develop into a nice big, strong, mare. She’s very scopey so there’s plenty of room there for development.”

Jamie Kah rides Autumn Angel and Coleman said the filly has a versatile enough racing pattern to give Kah options.

She’s an $8 chance in next month’s $1m The Star Australian Oaks, behind her two major Vinery rivals, and was same price with TAB when fields came out for Saturday’s contest.

“The tempo of the race will probably dictate a little bit where she gets to in the run, but as long as she flows along in a nice rhythm I think you’ll see her be strong late,’’ she said.

“We’ve got to get through Saturday and see where we end up but she looks a likely Oaks candidate in what we’ve done so far.”

Meanwhile, I Wish I Win is pleasing Moody and Coleman as the Everest runner-up aims to defend his crown in the Group 1 $3m TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) on Saturday week.

James McDonald has been booked for the ride, with Luke Nolen not quite ready to return from injury, and Coleman said the gelding galloped well on Tuesday.

“He had a nice gallop and pulled up clean in the wind so he looks on track for the TJ,’’ she said.

“We let him have a nice spell after the spring and he’s come back in good order, we’re sort of gearing everything towards the Everest later in the year.”

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday's Rosehill meeting