(ANDREW BENSLEY is a senior commentator with Sky Racing and Sky Sports Radio.)

It hasn't taken long for the Australian trainers to follow the success of New Zealand's latest whiz kid jockey, James McDonald.

Following in the footsteps of Jim Cassidy and Shane Dye, McDonald is expected to make a permanent move to Australia but before then he's going all-out to ride a record number of winners in a season in New Zealand.

McDonald is riding today (Friday) at the Sunshine Coast to help out some visiting Kiwi trainers but it's the Treasury Casino Queensland Oaks that holds centre stage.

McDonald warned that Scarlett Lady may be something special prior to her win in the Doomben Roses.

Now he's predicting the 2400 metres of the Oaks will suit Scarlett Lady even more. On Tuesday morning, Scarlett Lady worked with the more experienced Shoot Out at the Gold Coast and according to co-trainer Debbie Rogerson she galloped beautifully. 

McDonald also will team up with the Rogerson's two-year-old filly, Dowager Queen.

The big test for the impressive last start New Zealand winner is meeting a strong group of youngsters including Benfica and Free Wheeling.

McDonald told me Dowager Queen will appreciate getting to 1400 metres on Saturday but she'll like the metric mile even better in the T.J. Smith.

Dowager Queen won her most recent outing against older horses carrying just 46 kilograms. 

I'll probably be criticised for too much McDonald news but if it helps us back a winner, who cares.

McDonald teams up with Kiwi trainer, Michael Pitman, in the third race at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

El Chico produced a strong run at his latest Brisbane start, hitting the line nicely from the 100 metre mark after having been held up in the straight.

The key on Saturday is a significant drop in class.

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WHILE most attention in the QTC Cup at Eagle Farm is on Stradbroke favourite Sincero and the filly Curtana, don't rule out a form reversal from Kenny's World.

Trainer Graeme Murray confirmed the horse had suffered a bladder infection. Vets believe this may have prevented the horse at his latest start from finishing off in his normal manner.

Murray says Kenny's World's track work has been spot on during the past week.

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NOW to Sandown on Saturday, with the Australian Steeplechase and Hurdle being the features.

Eric Musgrove has a strong team tackling the two races but he has mixed views on the possibility of heavy track.

While Zealous would relish a heavy surface in the Steeplechase, Musgrove says Famous Prince in the Hurdle would be better suited on slow or better ground.

Musgrove was pleasantly surprised when Lloyd and Nick Williams gave him Our Aristocrat and Our Rockhampton to train as jumpers.

So far their performances have been first class but from now on the acid tests will applied.

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FORMER jumps jockey, Brett Scott, who looks after the John Wheeler team, expects the bigger Sandown circuit to help the chances of Petushki and Banna Strand in the Australian Steeplechase.

Both horses failed to handle the sometimes sharp turning Mornington track but they are getting to match fitness for race distances that will bring out their best.

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And finally, a quick note on Sandown.

After a break of six weeks from Melbourne racing, Damien Oliver returns this weekend.

Olly rode in Sydney during the Autumn and then had a ride or two in Queensland before taking a brief break.

He has two rides at Sandown, the best is Roulettes, who's racing consistently for Team Hawkes.