Journalists Wandering Eyes Posted 6 hours ago Journalists Share Posted 6 hours ago Angel Capital ridden by Ben Melham wins the Autumn Stakes at Caulfield Racecourse. (Photo by Pat Scala/Racing Photos) Angel Capital returned to the racetrack with a big win in the Group 2 Autumn Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday afternoon, sprinting quickly from the back of the field to swamp his rivals in the final 300m. The Clinton McDonald-trained colt held favouritism throughout betting with horse racing bookmakers, firming from an opening price of +220 to +180 by the time they jumped. Plymouth (+850) and Catoggio (+340) jumped well from their barriers to find the front and set a solid tempo, ahead of Detroit City (+1100), Jenni The Fox (+1800) and the eventual winner, who was in clear air. As the field turned the final corner, Ben Melham pushed Angel Capital into clear air down the middle of the track, while his main market rival Evaporate (+260) was slightly held up behind slowing runners. When Melham pushed the button, the son of Harry Angel exploded with a booming turn of foot and stormed over the top of Plymouth, who held on for second ahead of the luckless Evaporate. Click here for full Caulfield race replays. Clinton McDonald spoke about the victory post-race. “I’ve always had those thoughts, to look at him he looks like a 2000-metre horse, but he’s just got that devastating turn of foot and he’s so brilliant over a short trip,” McDonald said of Angel Capital being a miler. “This time in, after his gallops and after his trials his recovery’s been really good, whereas last time in he was always a little bit suspect. “I just think that was maturity and the way that he behaved today, as I said before the race, he’s just starting to mature mentally and learn what this game’s about. “I thought that was a race that showed that the penny’s starting to drop with him. “He’ll go straight to the Guineas I’d say, and then if he ran well there, we’d go to the All-Star Mile, then we’d pull up stumps and get him ready for the spring. “I think he’s a horse that doesn’t need a lot of racing. He’s one of those horses (it’s best to) keep him fresh, keep home well and he’ll do the rest.” Ben Melham echoed similar thoughts to McDonald in his post-race interview. “He’s very fresh and he’s been chomping at the bit to get the races for a long time,” Melham said. “He’s a good trainer, Clinton; he’s been very patient with him, and we had to work out what direction we went, whether we stayed at a sprint trip or had a crack at the Guineas, and to me, he feels like a miler. “He’s a horse that can get a bit aggressive, so it was good to see him find a spot and travel pretty good for him. “I was hoping they’d go a bit quicker, but he did a good job to pick himself up from that position and reel them in the way he did.” “His (first) two runs last time in were very good, he wasn’t himself when he ran in the Guineas last time at Caulfield, but he’s just improved as a horse. “He’s matured, he’s filled out, he’s strengthened and he’s just been breathing fire at home. “I reckon he’ll be pretty hard to beat in the Guineas this time.” Horse racing news View the full article Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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