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By Ray Hickson

Champion jockey James McDonald is not taking anything for granted when he partners boom filly Autumn Glow for the first time on race day at Randwick on Saturday – but she’s a young horse that clearly excites him.

James McDonald

Unbeaten in two starts, where with 52.5kg and 53kg McDonald was unable to ride her, Autumn Glow looms large over the Group 2 $300,000 Darley Tea Rose Stakes (1400m) given the dominance of those wins.

“I trialled her and there was great anticipation to see her have her first start,’’ McDonald said.

“Unfortunately, I couldn’t ride her in her first couple and I’m looking forward to getting back on her.

“She’s got a great attitude, she covers the ground well and she has a big pedigree so she’s got a lot going for her.”

Autumn Glow enters the Darley Princess Series as the $1.95 favourite with TAB on Thursday and she’s $2.30 to win the Group 1 Flight Stakes (1600m) in two weeks.

The half-sister to Golden Rose winner In The Congo debuted with a runaway win over subsequent stakes winner Dawn Service at Rosehill on August 17 then returned two weeks later to claim the Group 3 Up & Coming Stakes, both over 1300m.

McDonald said as impressive as Autumn Glow has been to date she does face some competition from the likes of Silver Shadow winner Ameena and Furious Stakes victor Manaal and an awkward barrier at the 1400m start.

“It’s a tough ask, having her third start, you’ve got to remember Ameena and Manaal just to name two have had tough preparations,’’ he said.

“So they’re seasoned for this and have a bit more experience than what Autumn Glow has.

“And I know how good Ameena is having ridden her in her last couple of starts. It’s definitely no pushover but she’s got quality and I’ll be interested to see where she measures up.”

McDonald, fresh from four wins from five rides at Canterbury midweek, has the job on the pre-post favourite in all five stakes races at Randwick and for the most part the barrier draw hasn’t been kind to him.

It doesn’t bother the eight-time Sydney premier jockey so much on Fangirl in the $1 million 7+ Sport Stakes (1600m) given her racing pattern and is out for atonement after her first-up third in last month’s Winx Stakes.

She ran third in the race last year though didn’t have a trial in between as trainer Chris Waller has given her this time around.

“She was outstanding first-up and she’s had a lovely tickover trial,’’ he said.

“A mile in a small field, we’re going to need a bit of luck at some point in the race and she’ll be fighting out the finish.

“She’s a backmarker anyway, she’s bit one dimensional in that respect, her record would be even better if she had more tactical speed.

“She always runs well, her record is phenomenal and she’s never far away if she is beaten.”

A dominant second-up win by the Joe Pride-trained Ceolwulf has McDonald eager to see what he can produce in the Group 3 $250,000 James Squire Kingston Town Stakes (2000m).

So impressive was the dual Group 1 placed four-year-old that McDonald said he’s expecting a top two finish at least on Saturday.

“He was fantastic, he gave me an excellent feel and I expect him to be pretty hard to beat,’’ he said.

Autumn Glow wins at Rosehill on August 13

“I’d be disappointed if he’s not running one or two because he’s weighted beautifully and 2000m suits, he’s in really good form from what I feel.

“He has got great looks, he moves well, he’s got great ability and he can stay on a bit so he’s one I’m really looking forward to.”

James McDonald on Tom Kitten (race 6): “He was dealt a big blow with the gate but he’s in a really good frame of mind. He put in a stunning performance first-up over 1400m, he stays at the same trip with a gap between runs. Hopefully he can stamp his authority on this race to lead into an Epsom where he’s favourite at the moment.”

On I Am Me (race 9): “She was excellent first-up, she had all favours with the way the track was playing that day. She’s drawn a good gate and looks to get a similar run. With a bit of luck at the top of the straight she will be competitive again.”

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