An ambitious autumn program awaits Sydney's newest Group One winner Ilovethiscity on the back of his determined Randwick Guineas victory.Despite having to race against the pattern trainer Grahame Begg and jockey Brenton Avdulla expected, Ilovethiscity showed his tenacity to keep Skilled at bay and the punters who backed him into $1.90 favouritism happy.The 1600m feature was held at Warwick Farm on Saturday because of a music festival at Randwick and while some bemoaned having to race on the tigh

An ambitious autumn program awaits Sydney's newest Group One winner Ilovethiscity on the back of his determined Randwick Guineas victory.

Despite having to race against the pattern trainer Grahame Begg and jockey Brenton Avdulla expected, Ilovethiscity showed his tenacity to keep Skilled at bay and the punters who backed him into $1.90 favouritism happy.

The 1600m feature was held at Warwick Farm on Saturday because of a music festival at Randwick and while some bemoaned having to race on the tighter track, Begg was all smiles.

"It's great, great for the stable, great for the jockey and for me," Begg said.

"He's had his share of bad luck in the past and he was out of his comfort zone today but to his credit he really dug in deep.

"He will go on to the George Ryder Stakes in three weeks and then the Doncaster with 51 kilos."

In an attempt to get Pressday ($14) back in form, Jim Cassidy jumped him to the front and he set a solid pace.

Light Brigade ($17) tracked the leader with Skilled ($4.60) and Ilovethiscity just off the pace.

Avdulla was forced to get going a bit sooner than he had hoped and Ilovethiscity got to the front mid-straight as Pressday started to tire.

Skilled gave chase and looked as if he would go past Ilovethiscity but Avdulla managed to raise another effort from him and the margin was a half neck.

Light Brigade was another three-quarters of a length third with Absolutelyawesome a close fourth and Pressday holding on for fifth.

"That was the longest last furlong I've had in my life," Avdulla said.

"I was exposed at the half mile and a lot sooner than I had hoped."

It was the second Group One for Avdulla whose first came aboard the Begg trained Secret Admirer in the Flight Stakes in the spring.

Avdulla was leading the apprentices' premiership mid-season but opted to become a senior rider and it has paid off.

"I'm having a great run, I've ridden four Group winners in the last couple of months," he said.

The 20-year-old said he was already preparing to ride Ilovethiscity at 51kg in the Doncaster.

Skilled's rider Kerrin McEvoy was ruing the one that got away.

"I got held up at the wrong time, I didn't expect that sort of pace to be on," he said.

"I would have liked to have led, I didn't want to be third on the fence and I would have enjoyed getting clear earlier.

"I was an unlucky loser today."

Ilovethiscity has also been an unlucky loser in his time, most notably when third in the Golden Rose in August after getting held up at a vital stage.

He also had a disastrous trip to the Caulfield Guineas in the spring when he finished out of the placings and hurt himself in the race.

But that was all but forgotten by Begg on Saturday.

"Caulfield didn't work out, but things went right today," he said.

"We thought the pace would be on like it was and even though he had to go early, all's well."