The Queen Elizabeth II Stakes is one of the two big middle-distance championships in Australian racing.

Along with the Cox Plate in the Spring, it is the pinnacle of 2000m contests and sees the best of the sport face off, which is no different this year.

The unbeaten superstar of the sport Autumn Glow has raised the bar with every run this campaign, winning all three, the latest at Group One level and now steps past 1600m for the first time.

By a Derby winner in The Autumn Sun, everything Autumn Glow has done has suggested 2000m won't pose an issue at all – in fact, it could even be beneficial.

She's shown plenty of late speed but her ability to absorb pressure and then still kick away was on display last start when a dominant winner of the George Ryder Stakes (1500m), the 2.8 length margin the biggest of her perfect career.

On form and ratings, they'll struggle to beat Autumn Glow who has comfortably handled last week's impressive Tancred Stakes winner Aeliana throughout this campaign, but a few will fancy Saturday as the day to break the streak.

Aeliana was outstanding when rising to 2400m in the Tancred, charging down a well-ridden Dubai Honour who has returned to Australia for the third time for trainer William Haggas.

Like Autumn Glow, Aeliana is a four-year-old mare in the prime of her career, having won the Australian Derby (2400m) against the boys in dominant fashion as a three-year-old and once again excelled in the Tancred getting out to a staying trip.

Back to 2000m here, she'll be very fit and staying on strongly, as will Dubai Honour who interestingly gets blinkers on for the first time.

He won the Tancred last year and while beaten this year was every bit as good, with five lengths back to third. He was one of the runs of the race behind champion mare Via Sistina in last year's Queen Elizabeth when wide throughout and may again look to take off early to draw the sprint out of his dangers.

Sir Delius skipped the Tancred having hit the line well in the Ranvet Stakes (2000m) behind Aeliana for a narrow third. He should be fitter again and is at his best when up on speed so expect he's ridden more aggressively now. His Spring form says he's at least as good as Aeliana and arguably the main danger to Autumn Glow.

Autumn Glow faces her toughest challenge yet but she's handled all before her with ease, and nothing she's done says 2000m will pose an issue – it's hard to see how she's anything other than a very short priced favourite again.

Photo:Martin King