Barnavara tipped by McDonald to shine for Yulong like Via Sistina

Champion jockey James McDonald draws comparisons between Barnavara, Yulong's latest costly overseas buy, and elite mare Via Sistina, as the former gears up for her first Sydney start with much to prove.

After adding three Group 1 triumphs at Rosehill on Saturday to reach 131 career wins and break Damien Oliver's Australian record of 129, the rider was busy at Canterbury Quarantine Facility on Tuesday, working Barnavara in a trial.

McDonald first partnered Via Sistina in her local debut during the 2024 Ranvet Stakes, which she won convincingly, but he sees matching patterns in their pre-Australia form to Barnavara's record.

"I didn't work Via before that first run. My first ride on her was the Ranvet, so I can't really draw comparisons, but one thing I would say by looking at their form lines, they're so consistent," McDonald said.

"Via was probably running in better races, but this one is more lightly raced and unexposed, and her form reads so beautifully. She never puts a bad run in, and that's what Via came out with as well."

Barnavara, a four-year-old mare to southern hemisphere age, fetched Yulong Investments the equivalent of $A10.1 million at last year's Tattersalls December Mares Sale, the record for a filly in training.

Her most recent win was a Group 1 in France at 2000m, and she was scheduled to arrive at Chris Waller's Rosehill stables on Tuesday ahead of the Neville Sellwood Stakes (2000m) this coming weekend.

He had also taken her for a gallop at Canterbury last Friday, remarking on her notable improvement since.

"Beautiful mare. Great appetite for work, she loves her work, and she was a little bit stuffy then. The last (four) days, she has come on immensely," he said.

"She feels really, really good, and I'd expect a huge performance from her this Saturday in the Neville Sellwood, that's for sure."

Having a new arrival for the carnival excites McDonald, who appreciates the trust in riding such a classy mare as Barnavara.

"It's like unwrapping another Christmas present every weekend," he said.

"We're lucky they keep coming and we're in a position to be able to ride them.

"When I came out here on Friday, the day before the Slipper, I was pretty excited to jump on her to see what she felt like, and she didn't let me down."

McDonald has enjoyed a whirlwind few days, capped by the Monday night premiere in Sydney of a film chronicling his life and achievements.

He's far happier astride a horse than on the red carpet, and though reflection on his Golden Slipper exploits has been scarce, he cherishes the historic occasion.

"It keeps rolling on and on, so there's not much time to reflect," McDonald said.

"In saying that, there were five exceptional performances in all the big races, and to have a bit of luck in three of them, it was special."

On Tuesday, Autumn Glow, the mare behind his record 131st Group 1, was locked in for the Queen Elizabeth Stakes to close her Sydney autumn campaign.

Explore the online bookmakers offering top betting markets for the race in the Neville Sellwood Stakes.