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By Ray Hickson

The deeper trainer Chris Waller has looked into his superstar Autumn Glow’s potential to run out a strong 2000m the more confident he’s grown as she puts her unbeaten record on the line again at Randwick on Saturday.

Trainer Chris Waller (Pic: Grant Guy).

She’s the headline act on Day 2 of The Championships in a race, the Group 1 $5 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m), that often produces something unforgettable.

You don’t even need to delve back too far in the history books.

Think Via Sistina stamping her dominance a year ago, a year earlier when Pride Of Jenni produced something the word extraordinary doesn’t do justice to.

Of course it was the stage for Winx’s finale in 2019. Head back further in time and the race served as farewells for champions Lonhro and his sire Octagonal. It never disappoints.

And Waller isn’t expecting racing fans, who he encourages to turn out at Randwick, to be disappointed either.

“She’s a rising star and everybody is talking about her and everybody can see how dominant she is when she races,’’ Waller said.

“She’s got the following of racing, she’s getting the following of the sportspeople and then we see it transcend through to the general public.

“We do embrace it, it was a privilege to be involved with Winx and we only learned that in the twilight of her racing. I don’t feel the Winx pressure at all.

“Autumn Glow has got a long way to go but we can see the importance of it.”

There’d been conjecture through most of the autumn as to what race would be Autumn Glow’s season ender and Waller said it was what he saw in the George Ryder Stakes that helped convince him to tackle 2000m.

He’s also had James McDonald campaigning for connections to test her out and with every day that has passed since March 21 he’s become more certain it’s the race that not only suits her but can help underpin her greatness.

“The last 200m was very strong, and through the line she just kept going,’’ he said.

“That was third-up, even the start before second-up over the mile she just pulled up clean in the wind.

“I tell you what gives me huge confidence, not just that she’s by The Autumn Sun but The Autumn Sun is out of a Galileo mare and I can see the Galileo blood in her.

“I could see it in The Autumn Sun, when you look at all the Galileos there’s plenty of similarities with him in those horses and I see the same with her.

“We needed to find out her distance range and we’re going into the race with full confidence knowing it won’t be a problem and that will help us set the boundaries for the rest of her career.”

The four-year-old, $1.40 with TAB on Thursday, has had her work stepped up to ensure she’s peaking on Saturday and that she’s ready for what Waller fully anticipates will be a stern test of her stamina.

And he says bring it on.

“The stronger the test the better, she’s ready for it, and it’s the perfect opportunity to try,’’ he said.

“We expect a really strong run 2000m race so we’ve factored that in to make sure she’s the fittest she’s been. Surprisingly with the extra work she’s done she’s been just as sharp.

“Once those barriers open it’s all in his hands and the beauty of having James McDonald on board is he’s world class and he’ll adapt to every situation.”

Waller suspects a few rivals have shied away from the Queen Elizabeth because of Autumn Glow but he remains wary of the presence of William Haggas’ Dubai Honour.

Within his own camp he has a potential danger in the shape of Aeliana, who gave her stablemate a small fright in the Verry Elleegant Stakes over the mile before her back-to-back Group 1 wins at Rosehill.

“She’s in great form Aeliana, her run in the Ranvet was terrific and she backed it up seven days later in the Tancred Stakes beating Dubai Honour,’’ he said.

Autumn Glow makes it 11 straight in the George Ryder

“It’s probably taken a little bit of speed out of her, she hasn’t been as sharp in training.

“But we know her fitness is there and her ability is there so if they do run along really quick, which we expect, it will certainly play into Aeliana’s hands as well.”

Front runner Lindermann and Neville Sellwood winner Wootton Verni round out Waller’s quartet in the flagship race of The Championships but, really, it’s all about one horse.

All the fields, form and replays for Day 2 of The Championships at Randwick on Saturday