Chris Waller seeks to evaluate Autumn Boy’s stamina for a spring Cox Plate tilt by raising the colt to 2000 metres first-up in the Rosehill Guineas.

The three-year-old was eyed for Saturday’s George Ryder Stakes (1500m) amid the Golden Slipper races, but the undefeated Autumn Glow in the stable created friction, though Waller denied the Guineas path sidesteps her.

“We could have gone the shorter option for him and run into Autumn Glow in a George Ryder and Doncaster, and we could still go to a Doncaster,” Waller said.

“But I want to know whether he is a solid, 2000-metre horse to see whether he’s in a Cox Plate when he comes back in the spring.”

Having captured the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas at a mile, Autumn Boy placed third to Ninja in the Hobartville Stakes (1400m) and second to ascendant filly Sheza Alibi in the Randwick Guineas (1600m) during his current campaign’s two appearances.

With Peter Moody affirming Sheza Alibi heads to the Doncaster Mile (1600m), she poses no threat at Rosehill, and Waller expects Autumn Boy to hit top form after his recent efforts.

“He ran into a pretty smart one last week, but he will be ready to peak as well third-up,” he said.

Blinkers adorned Autumn Boy last time but are absent this preparation, and won’t appear Saturday, according to Waller.

The colt endeavours to match The Autumn Sun, victor of the 2018 Caulfield Guineas and subsequent Rosehill Guineas.

Waller revealed Providence, the Randwick Guineas seventh-placer from his stable, will forego Saturday’s Group 1 for Group 3 assignments in the Carbine Club Stakes (1600m) on April 4 at Randwick and the Frank Packer Plate (2000m) later in April.

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