Autumn Glow ($1.75F) further cemented her arrival as one of Australia’s most exciting racehorses with a powerful victory in the $10,000,000 Golden Eagle at Royal Randwick.

The unbeaten mare stretched her winning streak to eight, proving superior late as she held off Sepals ($21), while Evaporate ($11) closed strongly for third.

Back aboard for the first time in two runs, James McDonald positioned her ideally with cover throughout before timing his run to perfection.

Trainer Chris Waller said the race continues to rise in prestige each year.

“This race is gaining momentum, I actually thought it was a group one race,” Waller said.

“The ratings it rates every year is quite special.

“It’s a race that’s held on the world stage, a high benchmark, and that’s why we decided to run her here.”

McDonald suggested Autumn Glow is still developing and may be set for even bigger assignments.

“She gives me that ooh-la-la feeling. I’d love to see her in a Cox Plate,” McDonald said.

“I don’t think we’ve seen the best version of her yet either, we’re so lucky to have her.

“She was out on her feet and she just keeps finding, she is fair dinkum.

“She knew she was in a race today and it was all due to the heavy ground, it was very testing out there for her.”

Waller shut down any talk of comparisons to Winx.

“No chance,” Waller said.

“I don’t care if she gets beaten, she’s a star in herself and the sequence is irrelevant.”