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

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