James McDonald was pleased with the progress of Central Europe but wary of the big field the exciting colt faces when he tries to give the champion jockey a fourth listed Rosebud (1100m) win in six years on Saturday at Rosehill.

Chris Waller-trained Central Europe, a $750,000 son of Frankel, was prominent in Golden Slipper betting last season, even before a luckless, eye-catching debut in the group 2 Skyline Stakes. Boxed in at a crucial stage by stablemate and eventual winner Campione D’Italia, Central Europe flashed home under Jason Collett to go down in a photo-finish.

Central Europe then made a last-ditch attempt to make the Slipper field in the Pago Pago Stakes, where he came from well back under McDonald to finish a length third.

McDonald has named Central Europe, and other Waller-trained colts, as big improvers heading into the spring and he was relieved to see a handy draw for the $4.60 TAB chance in seven, which will become at least six of 16 with Peter Snowden-trained Oh Yes She Did racing instead at Caulfield.

“It’s just a good foundation really, just to get a good day out,” McDonald said of the draw.

“He’s still learning his craft, but he’s very talented, and we’re looking forward to getting him kick-started.

“He’s strengthened up nicely, so that’s what we wanted to see and it looks a good kick-off point, for sure. It’s a big field though.

“But he hasn’t put a foot wrong this prep, and everyone seems to be very happy.”

A win will add to McDonald’s success in the early season three-year-old feature, where he has saluted on Paulele (2021), Tiz Invincible (2023) and Gatsby’s (2024).

McDonald, coming off a record-breaking season including 17 group 1 wins and a 10th Sydney premiership, has had a relatively quiet start to this campaign, with three winners across four city meetings, but that looks set to change on Saturday. His rides include favourites Steel Will ($1.65), Valedor ($3.20), Glissando ($2.90), Hawker Hall ($2.20) and Tarzing ($2.90).

Avista gave McDonald his first Saturday winner of the season last week and he has another Arrowfield prospect, Valedor, in the 1300m Highway Handicap. Like Avista, Valedor will make the jump from Muswellbrook and Scone wins.

“It’s a big step up,” McDonald said.

“He hasn’t seen a full field like this and he’s pretty big and new by the looks of him, but he looks talented.

“He’s got good pedigree, but it’s whether or not he wants a little bit further maybe.”

Waller-trained Godolphin mare Glissando is coming off a dominant 1550m Canterbury win with McDonald aboard and makes the rise to Saturday grade at 1400m in the fifth.

“She’s just got to make the necessary improvement, but she’s talented,” he said.

“I like her back in trip, like Chris has done. She’s nice and fast.”

Tarzing was sixth when favourite last start, after getting too far back from gate 11, but he has barrier six on Saturday.

“It had a horrific barrier and laid in quite badly too,” he said.

“He’s a very talented horse. He’s just got to iron out some of those greenness issues out.”

McDonald links again with Hawker Hall after taking the five-year-old to a first-up win at Randwick three weeks ago over 1100m at benchmark 88 level. The Kris Lees-trained flyer rises to 1200m and 94 grade on Saturday, where has again drawn well.

“He’s a good horse,” McDonald said.

“He faces similar horses to him again, but he’s come back in good order, really good, and I like the gap between runs Kris has given him.”

Lees was confident Hawker Hall could make the jump in trip and handle similar opposition.

“It looks a nice race for him with the soft draw,” Lees said.

“It had a bit of depth that last race. This is a stronger ratings race, but that last race was strong.”

He hoped Hawker Hall could win his way into better races in the spring before a break to target the Magic Millions carnival in January.

Lees, meanwhile, was weighing up starts for his contrasting Rosebud contenders Under Focus, a $400,000 Yulong-owned Too Darn Hot colt, and She’s Extra, a $60,000 yearling buy for Lees.

Under Focus ($19), which has twice finished a length off exciting prospect The Next Episode, has drawn poorly in 14, while She’s Extra ($31) could be saved for an easier return at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.

“Under Focus has come out of some pretty strong form races,” he said.

“The gate means we have to ride him conservative, but we could do that. He’s a nice horse. You’ve got to see where they come up, but in a perfect world we get to the Golden Rose.”

She’s Extra was a city midweek winner before finishing last in the Percy Sykes Stakes.

“She probably had enough by then, but she’s come back in good order,” he said.

“She will be set for the fillies races, probably more so the shorter races. I don’t know if she will get beyond 1200.”