The Autumn Carnival really starts to hit its crescendo on Saturday at Royal Randwick, with four Group One races on a magnificent day.

Arguably the highlight of those is the Group 1 Doncaster Mile (1600m) under handicap conditions, one of the oldest big handicaps in the country.

With weights likely to spread from 58.5kg all the way down to 49kg, the big field coming up the Randwick rise will be a sight to see, although most eyes will be focused squarely on one horse.

Three-year-old filly Sheza Alibi made waves with a dominant display against the boys in the Group 1 Randwick Guineas (1600m) when last seen, sitting off a fast speed and powering away to belt her rivals, including a subsequent Group 1 winner in Autumn Boy, who comes back from 2000m for the Doncaster.

Despite beating Autumn Boy by over three lengths, Sheza Alibi gets in on the minimum weight of 49kg with Melbourne Cup winning rider Jamie Melham able to ride at the low weight, which will have her far and away the horse to beat.

The past two three-year-olds to win the Doncaster Mile have both carried very low weights – Celestial Legend (49kg) and Brutal (49.5kg) and while both were colts rather than a filly, neither were coming off such a dominant win.

Not many go straight from the Randwick Guineas to the Doncaster Mile without a run in between but Sheza Alibi could be something special and her rating at the weights will ensure she starts a dominant favourite.

The other key form reference is the Group 1 George Ryder Stakes (1500m) at weight-for-age and while the new superstar of Australian racing Autumn Glow won't run here, plenty of well credentialed older gallopers will.

Perhaps the pick of them would be Headley Grange who has gotten a long way back in both runs this time in, coming home in the race-fastest sectionals over 1300m first up, again one of the best runs last time.

He's been set to peak for this from a long way out and gets in quite well with 54.5kg. If there were to be a main danger to Sheza Alibi, Headley Grange may be the one.

Photo: Bradley Photo