Angel Capital flies into Group 1 contention
Clinton McDonald believes Darley sire Harry Angel (Dark Angel) has another burgeoning star on the rise after Angel Capital stormed home to win Saturday’s McKenzie Stakes (Listed, 1200m) at Moonee Valley.
Ridden quietly in last place of the eight starters by Ben Melham, Angel Capital flew home in the straight to collar Amelia’s Jewel’s (Siyouni) half-brother Bosustow (Blue Point) at the 50-metre mark and surge clear to win the three-year-old males’ sprint by 0.75 lengths.
Ciaron Maher’s New Zealand import Sergeant Major (Proisir) claimed his first slice of black type by taking third.
A $400,000 purchase for Upper Bloodstock and Gregory Ho at last year’s Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, the well-related Angel Capital is a colt with a somewhat frustrating past.
A handsome debut win over 1000 metres on a Soft 5 at Cranbourne in April was enough to trigger a Brisbane winter carnival raid. But while starting a $3 favourite in the Spirit Of Boom Classic (Gr 2, 1200m) on a Doomben Soft 7, he could manage only a well beaten fifth.
Sent into Eagle Farm’s Sires’ Produce Stakes (Gr 2, 1400m) on a Soft 6, he fared worse still, running ninth at $9.
But back at home and back to a Good 4, Angel Capital – a $5 equal second-favourite – looked outstanding in claiming the McKenzie, living up to McDonald’s expectations and portending a stellar future, track conditions possibly permitting.
“It was a great relief,” McDonald said. “We went to Queensland and it didn’t work out, but today we knew he was going to do something. His work on Tuesday had to be seen to be believed, so we were really confident today.
“Ben rode him beautifully. We were always going to be out the back and we thought he was good enough to swamp them, and that’s what he did.”
McDonald was encouraged by the fact Angel Capital had run second in his only lead-up jump-out behind Growing Empire (Zoustar), who so impressively won at Caulfield last Saturday in the McNeil Stakes (Gr 3, 1200m).
“He only had the one trial, and if anyone saw his trial against Growing Empire – that gave us more confidence seeing Growing Empire race like he did last week,” McDonald told Channel 7.
Angel Capital’s withering finish suggested he could compete over a longer trip, possibly bringing the Caulfield Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m) onto his radar. But McDonald said he was still unsure whether the colt was a sprinter or a miler.
“We don’t know – that’s the problem,” he said. “That’s something we’ll have to look at.”
Melham was most impressed by Angel Capital’s performance.
“He’s a very good colt,” the jockey said. “He won very impressively in his first start, and then we were a bit disappointed with him. He didn’t have the tracks in his favour but he didn’t run to the best of his ability in Queensland.
“But he’d been flying at home, and it was good to see him come out and win in the fashion he did today.
“The race worked out well for him. He’s a horse who can get going a bit keen, especially when he’s well. It was a bit busy early, and the speed came off through the middle and he just got up on the chewy a little bit, but it always felt like he had the race in his keeping a long way out.”
Angel Capital is the fifth Australian stakes-winner for Darley shuttler Harry Angel, the ten-year-old standing his sixth Australian season for $38,500 (inc GST), up from $33,000 (inc GST) last year.
Harry Angel, who’s had 48 Australian winners from 87 runners, finished fourth on the second season sires’ table last season, with his star performer being the Group 1-winning Tom Kitten. Angel Capital’s win on Saturday gave the stallion seven Australian winners this season from 35 runners, with two at black–type level.
Angel Capital becomes the third stakes winner from five foals to race for dam Bahamas (Teofilo), who only won a maiden but was thrice stakes placed, including a third in Morphettville’s Australasian Oaks (Gr 1, 2000m).
He follows in the footsteps of her first foal Senor Toba (Toronado) – winner of one Australian Group 3 and two more in Hong Kong, and who’s been placed twice at Group 1 level – and her third foal, the Group 2 and Listed–winning Berkeley Square (Territories).
Bahamas’ colt by Blue Point (Shamardal) fetched $300,000 when sold at Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale this year from Mill Park Stud’s draft to Lucky Owners Pty Ltd. After her filly foal by Pinatubo (Shamardal) died at birth last year, she is due to drop another Blue Point foal this spring.