![Autumn Glow wins the George Ryder Stake [Bradley Photos]](https://betsy.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/2271575.jpg)
The thunder rolled in as James McDonald returned on Autumn Glow, and when he jumped off in the darkened winner’s stall it resembled a mob of paparazzi.
It was an unreal scene for a horse and rider that are in rare air.
The unbeaten Autumn Glow logged her 11th straight win in awesome fashion in the George Ryder Stakes. She left the best in her wake at the 200m mark with an explosive sprint.
It was the last piece in the puzzle of getting the champion tag. The margin was 2-3/4 lengths but it could have been six.
“Her acceleration is something else,” McDonald said. “It is so smooth.
“It’s scary really, because she is going to get better.
“She is only behind Romantic Warrior in the horses I have been on now.
“That’s how good she is now.
“And you know Chris [Waller’s] horse, she only going to get better, she is at the beginning.
“That’s scary.”
The question remains if it will be the Doncaster, Queen Elizabeth Stakes or Queen Of The Turf.
Wherever she goes, she will be in red figures.
“She just does everything so effortlessly. That’ll help her get 2000m,” trainer said Chris Waller, who stopped short giving her the champion tag where McDonald has her.
“She’s a very talented horse. Obviously, longevity is the key now. If she keeps doing that, she’ll be a champion for sure.”
McDonald had got the Australasian Group 1 record out of the way as Aeliana and Autumn Boy won the Ranvet Stakes and Rosehill Guineas respectively.
He lifted Aeliana to victory with the roars rising with him as he cop the better of Lindermann.
“The crowd was awesome all day, I could hear them,” McDonald said. “You don’t get the feeling everyone is on your side.
“Her tenacity to find the line was just superb out there.
“She’s been building to something like that and I’ve got to give credit to the second horse [Lindermann] because they made us work. I was thinking, this is not how the script’s supposed to go.”
A race later when Autumn Boy dash away he had the record.
“It’s lovely, but it’s a testament to the horses that I ride because they are phenomenal,” McDonald said. “There’s no two ways about it, that I do ride the best horses and most favourites each race and I’m blessed to have that opportunity.”
McDonald finined the ay 131 Group 1 wins, where that total finishes is anyone’s guess.
