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By Ray Hickson

Unbeaten colt Autumn Boy is giving jockey Jason Collett a similar feel heading into Saturday’s Group 3 $250,000 Chandon Ming Dynasty Quality (1400m) at Rosehill to the day he caused an upset on debut and announced himself as a promising spring prospect.

Jockey Jason Collett (Pic: Bradley Photos).

He was a $51 chance in a midweek maiden with all the focus on blueblood stablemate Central Coast but Collett said he quickly sensed the colt was no longshot and having ridden him again in his most recent trial says nothing has changed.

Autumn Boy went to Eagle Farm following his debut where James McDonald partnered him to an easy Listed win.

“It wasn’t until I got on him I thought he might be pretty good, when I was going to the start I got a good feel but what he produced in the race I was very impressed with,’’ Collett said.

“I really wanted to stick with him up in Queensland but obviously James rode him that day, I’m glad to be on him again.

“He’s much the same as when I won on him. I’ve galloped him again on Tuesday, he is what he is – a very nice horse. I think he’s very smart, he could be very good.”

Collett doesn’t have any reason to fear a soft track with Autumn Boy, $2.80 with TAB on Friday, given that debut win and he’s rapt to have a draw he can work with.

The Chris Waller trained colt is an $11 chance in the Golden Rose and the trainer indicated earlier this week that the Group 1 could be on the agenda if he’s impressive on Saturday.

“We’ve got some options there from the barrier and we should be able to use it to a certain degree,’’ Collett said.

“This Saturday is the next step for him.”

Experience on Autumn Boy has Collett pretty well versed on what to expect but he only has what he’s seen as a guide to Coolmore colt Wodeton’s chances in the Group 2 $300,000 Yulong Run To The Rose (1200m).

Collett rode Rivellino, who ran fourth, in the San Domenico Stakes but said looking back on that race he couldn’t be anything else than pleased with what he saw Wodedon produce ahead of him.

While there was some controversy with the winner Raging Force hampering Wodeton inside the 200m mark it was a promising start to the colt’s campaign.

“When he was starting to build into it he had that interference, the step up in trip is going to help,’’ Collett said.

“Hopefully there will be a bit more pressure than what there was last start but you have the variable of a rain affected track too.

“His run was good and he’s obviously building towards his main goal. It’s a good race and I’m excited to be on him.”

Among Collett’s other mounts he said World Alliance should be able to hold his consistent winter form when he comes off a short break in the Asahi Super Dry Handicap (1100m).

The six-year-old hasn’t raced since running second behind Cigar Flick in late July and the Matt Smith-trained gelding gave Collett a good vibe in his recent trial.

“Matt’s starting to really fine tune him and we’re getting the results,’’ he said.

Autumn Boy's debut win at Canterbury

“The barrier is a positive, I know he doesn’t have a great deal of early speed but as opposed to drawing wide I hope he can be one pair closer.”

Jason Collett on Narbold (race 10): “He’s going great and he’s a definite beneficiary of the ground. If it ends up being a sticky track it’s definitely going to suit him. His barrier manners can let him down, he wasn’t as bad last start but it is still a bit of an issue. If he jumped cleaner last start he probably gets a softer run and probably wins the race. He’s the hunter and not the hunted which I think he’s better at.”

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