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By Ray Hickson

James McDonald has higher profile rides than stayer River Of Stars at Randwick on Saturday but if the imported mare is able to win it will give him one of only two Group 1 races that has eluded him over The Championships.

James McDonald with his Autumn Glow plushies.

Out of the eight Group 1s through the two days of The Championships the only missing links from JMac’s collection are the Doncaster Mile, which he’ll have to wait at least another year for, and the $2 million Schweppes Sydney Cup (3200m).

Last week McDonald notched his second Inglis Sires win and his fourth TJ Smith to go with two Australian Derbys, and he’s also so far won two Australian Oaks, Queen Of The Turf and Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

River Of Stars, $8.50 with TAB on Thursday, is winless in 10 Australian starts to date but she was placed in last year’s Sydney Cup as well as running second and fourth in the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups respectively.

“She loves the two miles, that’s the key there,’’ McDonald said.

“She’s been running in the weight-for-age races which are normally pretty strong lead ups so that’s all good. She’s had the right lead ups for sure.”

The mare has run fourth at her past two starts including the weight-for-age Tancred Stakes (2400m) two weeks ago and McDonald said he’s expecting her to be hard to beat despite carrying top weight of 56.5kg.

McDonald gave Ohope Wins a spin around Rosehill on Thursday morning ahead of the Group 1 $1 million Australian Oaks (2400m) and he’s looking forward to the filly getting into a truly run race.

That wasn’t the case, he said, when the New Zealand Oaks winner made her local debut running fourth in the Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) last month.

“She’s had a really good couple of weeks and improved a bit, which she needed to, and she is in good order,’’ he said.

“They didn’t go fast enough the other day. The 2000m at Rosehill is completely different to a mile and a half at Randwick.

“She finishes strong, she loves strong run races and she loves the distance so I’m sure she will be hard to beat.”

Of course all eyes will be on the unbeaten Autumn Glow attempting her 12th straight win in the Group 1 $5 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m).

While McDonald has won at least one Group 1 race over each of the past six weeks of the carnival he doesn’t take the race he’s riding the $1.40 favourite for granted.

He’s been adamant for weeks the four-year-old will relish the 2000m and we’ll all know the answer to that question soon after 4.35pm on Saturday.

“We’re excited by the challenge of 2000m and she’s given no indication she won’t run it,’’ he said.

“There’s a good handful that are worthy competitors so she will know she’s in a race but she is very good.

“Since her three-year-old year we couldn’t wait until she stretched over further. I think she will run it on her ear to be fair and the harder they go the more she will win by.”

As he held a couple of plush Autumn Glow horses, McDonald said it’s her action, the way she covers the ground and conserves energy and her ability to sustain a gallop that makes her such a weapon.

After a rousing reception following her George Ryder Stakes win on Slipper Day he hopes people will continue to get on the bandwagon and turn out to cheer racing’s new superstar on.

River Of Stars runs fourth in the Tancred Stakes

“There is undoubtedly a lot of hype around her and deservedly so, she’s got this wonderful record of 11 of 11 and hopefully she can make it 12 from 12,’’ McDonald said.

“She’s just the most beautiful demeanoured horse so there’s a lot to like about her and if she can keep on this winning way I’m sure she will get the following she deserves.

“I can only do what I can do and she does a lot herself, she’s lovely to ride, and she takes everything in her stride so she’s a jockey’s dream.”

*There are 500 Autumn Glow plush horses available for $25 with proceeds going to the ATC Foundation charity.

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