Why the world’s best jockey brushed Derby day to ride Golden Eagle favourite

Premier jockey James McDonald hopes he can one day rank unbeaten sensation Autumn Glow as “one of the best” he has ridden.

After seven starts, and only one at group 1 level, it’s more about what is to come for the four-year-old. And what McDonald sees coming can be summed up by his actions as much as his praise of the Chris Waller-trained star.

McDonald will ride in the $10 million Golden Eagle, instead of the rich and revered VRC Derby program at Flemington, for the first time since the race’s inaugural running in 2019, when he finished fifth on favourite Arcadia Queen.

The 33-year-old, ranked the world’s best jockey, will partner race favourite Autumn Glow in the Golden Eagle and also Lady Shenandoah ($5 TAB), another Waller-prepared star four-year-old mare, in the $3 million Russell Balding Stakes (1300m) at Randwick.

“They are two good horses in two good races, so, yeah, I’d like to stick with Lady, and I’d like to stick with Autumn Glow,” McDonald said.

McDonald is back aboard Autumn Glow after missing the ride on her in the Epsom Handicap to partner Via Sistina in the Turnbull Stakes at Flemington earlier this month. Fresh from his successful Cox Plate defence last Saturday with eight-year-old Via Sistina, he was keen to get back with her heir apparent.

“I’m hoping she can be one of the best. That’s what I’m hoping for,” he said of Autumn Glow. “Her record speaks for itself. She’s beautiful. You couldn’t ask for a nicer ride. She’s got gate speed. She’s pretty uncomplicated in that respect. She’s just a pleasure to do anything with.”

Autumn Glow has been favourite for the Golden Eagle, a race for four-year-olds, since markets opened in May, and she firmed into $2 (TAB) on Thursday with Randwick rated a Soft 6 and more showers predicted.

McDonald was wary, however, of the two main threats to Autumn Glow – Silver Eagle winner Linebacker and group 1-winning Japanese entire Panja Tower.

“She’s seems really good, and it looks a nice race for her,” he said. “It’s a good, tough test for her, though. It’s no walk-in. Linebacker is in good form and the Japanese horse, it looks really, really special, so it looks a good test.”

McDonald also reunites with Lady Shenandoah after instead riding Joliestar in the Everest when both mares finished outside the placings.

Lady Shenandoah, which McDonald took to two group 1 wins in her unbeaten three-year-old campaign, has had a luckless four-year-old season and that continued with a draw in 13 for Saturday.

She clipped heels mid-race in the Everest and almost fell before finishing two and a quarter lengths away in seventh.

“She lost all momentum and still picked up and didn’t get beaten far,” he said. “She seems good. Bit of an awkward barrier, but it would be nice to end the prep with a bit of luck I suppose.”

In the group 3 Rosehill Gold Cup (2000m), McDonald rides Waller-trained $2.90 favourite Wootton Verni, a last-start winner of the Coongy Cup at Caulfield.

“He’s in nice winning form,” he said. “It’s taken him a long time, but I think it sets up really nice for him to probably build off that.

“He’s got to take another step because it’s quite a strong race with Maison Louis in it.”