James McDonald hesitates to equate Autumn Glow directly with Romantic Warrior, the Hong Kong star, but recognizes her upward momentum.

The mare produced a thrilling effort that gave McDonald goosebumps, storming to a 2-1/2 length success over Aeliana in Saturday’s Apollo Stakes (1400m) at Randwick, making it nine unbeaten runs.

With 15 wins in 20 races for Romantic Warrior—including eight steered by McDonald—the gelding remains the benchmark, but McDonald feels Autumn Glow has the chops to rival him if her form holds.

“It’s very special. Just the way and the ease with which she’s doing it,” McDonald said.

“You’ve got to remember, there were a lot of stayers in the race. But I’m riding a very good horse in Hong Kong (Romantic Warrior) and she’s on a trajectory where she is improving all the time, she is lightly raced, and let’s just say, the world is her oyster.”

Autumn Glow was electric, sitting off the speed before dismantling the field with effortless acceleration.

Trainer Chris Waller sees this debut run back as a strong indicator, aiding his planning for her program.

“The first run of the prep is the most important. It tells you where they are,” Waller said.

“You can have as many track gallops, trials and exhibition gallops but until they’re under race pressure, you don’t really know.

“It tells me she’s in a pretty good position.”

She lines up next in the Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) followed by the George Ryder Stakes (1500m), then owners will opt for mile trips or the 2000m Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

Heading for the Queen Elizabeth Stakes means probable rematch with Aeliana, who Waller rated highly on return.

“Aeliana was brilliant. It was good to see she can take up a spot if she needs to as well. She was put in the race and she was still strong late,” he said.

Waller completed the trifecta via Lindermann in third, but Joe Pride had concerns over sixth-placed Ceolwulf bleeding from nostrils after the Apollo Stakes. The racing betting markets are heating up for her upcoming targets.

The gelding faced scoping Saturday afternoon for signs of internal bleed, which imposes a three-month stand-down.

Pride’s Weeping Woman struck Group glory in the Triscay Stakes (1200m) 40 minutes later, yet Ceolwulf’s mishap soured the moment.

“I’m hoping more than anything (that it wasn’t a bleed),” Pride said.

“It’s not presenting typically like a bleeder would present. It sucked the life out of that win for me.”

Weeping Woman ($3.40 fav) marked her debut Group victory in the Triscay Stakes, beating Manaal ($4.20) by 1-1/4 lengths, Verona Rose ($12) third half-neck off.

The post McDonald, Waller bask in Autumn Glow’s stunning return first appeared on Just Horse Racing.