Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
The Missile a perfect pipe-opener for Angel Capital
The highly talented Yulong owned 5-year-old entire Angel Capital (Harry Angel {Ire}) looks the horse to beat in a fresh-state in Saturday's G2 Missile Stakes at Randwick.
Trainer Chris Waller believes the race is the ideal opportunity to build fitness into the talented galloper before a Group 1 target at his next start, with that breakthrough success pivotal to his future stud career at Yulong Stud.
Waller believes Angel Capital is well placed under the set weights and penalties conditions and expects the first-up assignment to have him ready to peak second-up.
Angel Capital | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“He’s well suited at set weights and penalties whereas the others probably aren’t,’’ Waller told RacingNSW.
“He’s a horse that needs to be rock hard fit second-up at 1400m and he could win a Group 1. I’d expect it’ll be the Memsie, because he likes Caulfield, so that will be the first target race.”
It is not often a 5-year-old entire with a stud career beckoning is still in work, but the pursuit of a Group 1 victory to complement his wins at Group 2, Group 3 and Listed level continues to drive connections.
Waller said the horse had returned in excellent order.
Chris Waller | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“He’s come back well, mentally he’s great so there’s no reason why he can’t keep going for another year,’’ he said.
“I’m happy with the way he’s racing, he’s showing in his races if there’s more tempo he’s fine. So I have no problems with him.”
“I’m happy with the way he’s (Angel Capital) racing, he’s showing in his races if there’s more tempo he’s fine. So I have no problems with him.” - Chris Waller
Angel Capital looks the logical favourite. While he has not won in his past seven starts, he has recorded three Group 1 placings during that period, underlining the level he has consistently performed at.
The toughest opposition could come from the 4-year-old entire Wootton Bassett (GB) entire Napoleonic, who is also chasing valuable black type for a future stud career, while the Michael Freedman-trained Ninja (Farna) and the speedy Gangsta Granny (Written Tycoon) both have looked sharp in recent trials and command plenty of respect.
Price and Kent's triple threat at Caulfield
The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr training partnership will saddle three progressive 3-year-olds at the Caulfield Heath on Saturday, with all having had the benefit of a run this preparation that could prove a valuable fitness edge over some of their opposition.
Saturday's result should also provide a strong guide as to where the stable heads next with Brazen Dechambeau (Brazen Beau), Dustee (Exceedance) and Commit (Profiteer).
Brazen Dechambeau is a horse Price expects to appreciate stepping up in distance after finishing fifth behind Doubt Time (Doubtland) at Caulfield when resuming late last month.
Mike Price and Michael Kent Jnr | Image courtesy of Price Kent Racing
"He's a good horse and he wants every inch of 1200 metres," Price told Racingandsports.
"He needed the run the other day and I think there will be good improvement."
Commit defeated stablemate Dustee two starts ago before producing a fast-finishing third behind American Eagle (Too Darn Hot {GB}) at Sandown on July 15.
Price is hoping Commit can settle in a more forward position after conceding too much ground early at his latest outing.
Commit as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
"That was not my preferred option to be out the back on him, but he was a little bit slow away and he gave away a good start," Price said.
"He was very good late and he's capable of being a nice, metropolitan Saturday horse.
"He's pretty cherry ripe."
"He's (Commit) pretty cherry ripe." - Mike Price
Dustee broke through for his maiden victory at Seymour over 1200 metres on July 19 after finishing second to Commit at his previous outing.
Price said the addition of blinkers had made a significant difference following a disappointing first-up effort at Bendigo.
"Alana Kelly rode him at Bendigo," Price said.
Dustee as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
"He went around very green, like he was switched off, for whatever reason, so I put the blinkers on him, did some genuine solid work with him and that turned him.
"He'll show up. He worked good on Saturday morning."
The stable holds a strong hand, although the Ben, Will and JD Hayes-trained Stakes (Capitalist), who has impressed in both career starts, shapes as the runner they may all have to beat in what looks an open 3-year-old contest.
Avista to take the step up to the city
Promising Paul Messara and Leah Gavranich-trained 4-year-old mare Avista (Maurice {Jpn}) faces a clear rise in class when she contests Saturday's BM72 Handicap at Randwick.
However, she appears well equipped for the challenge after previously winning three of her four starts at Muswellbrook and Scone.
The Maurice (Jpn) mare, out of a half-sister to four-time Group 1 winner Hartnell (GB) (Authorized {Ire}), has always shown plenty of ability despite taking time to mature, and Messara believes this is the right progression.
Paul Messara | Image courtesy of Sportpix
“She’s a nice mare with a good turn of foot,’’ Messara told RacingNSW.
“It’s obviously a big step up in grade but we think she’s up to that challenge. She has a good jockey on top, a good barrier, he just has to ride her well and she should be competitive.
“She’s got good tactical acceleration and that’s been key in most of her races she’s won. If she can get the race run to suit she should be pretty good.”
“She’s (Avista) got good tactical acceleration and that’s been key in most of her races she’s won. If she can get the race run to suit she should be pretty good.” - Paul Messara
Messara admitted the race was not his ideal scenario, preferring either a Highway assignment or a little more distance, but believes it is still the right grade for her progression.
“It’s the right grade to go to, I would have liked to go to a Highway but there was nothing over the right trip,’’ he said.
“I’d love to go a bit further with her, probably her next start after this will be over a mile. I feel like the further we go it’s going to suit her better.
“Some of our horses are very immature at the time (of the sales) and that’s why they don’t get snapped up by the market. They do come good in the end with a bit more time and patience, a lot of my horses fall into that category.”
Avista as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Avista has been well supported in betting and shapes as the horse to beat, although talented 4-year-old mare Magenta Skies (GB) (Frankel {GB}) resumes after a lengthy break and commands respect.
Meanwhile, the Hello Youmzain (Fr) 3-year-old gelding Persian Wonder (NZ), who broke through for a deserved maiden victory at Canterbury at his latest start, would not surprise if he made it back-to-back wins.
Cavalry Girl looks to build on her recent strong form
In-form sprinter Cavalry Girl (Bivouac) will look to continue her rich vein of form at the Caulfield Heath on Saturday, with trainer Tom Dabernig confident the mare is well placed despite stepping up in grade.
The Bivouac 4-year-old mare will carry the minimum weight of 53kg in the BM100 Handicap and reunites with Linda Meech, who has previously partnered the mare to victory earlier in her career.
Cavalry Girl | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
Cavalry Girl heads into the race off a career-defining win in the Listed Lightning Stakes at Morphettville on July 25 and returns to a track where she has produced consistently strong performances. Before her Adelaide breakthrough, she had recorded a win and two placings from three starts across the two Caulfield circuits.
Dabernig said the black-type success had been an important milestone.
"She's raced very consistently and then won over in Adelaide last time which was quite a comfortable win and important for her in getting the black type which is a big thing for her breeding future," Dabernig told Racingandsports.
While acknowledging Saturday represents another rise in class against older and more seasoned opposition, Dabernig believes the race conditions are favourable.
Tom Dabernig | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
"If you look at the benchmark of all the other horses, it is not a true 100 sprint," Dabernig said.
"She's also good at Caulfield, she's got the minimum weight, she's got a good gate and it's a small field, so she should run well.
"She's (Cavalry Girl) also good at Caulfield, she's got the minimum weight, she's got a good gate and it's a small field, so she should run well." - Tom Dabernig
"We trialled against (fellow Warrnambool-trained) Stokke with Shadhavar recently and it looks to be going well, but I would say with our race fitness, we're pretty confident to be taking it on."
Dabernig believes 1000 metres remains Cavalry Girl's ideal distance, despite the mare having also won over 1050 metres and performed well at 1100 metres.
"Craig Williams has mentioned that we could try 1200 (metres), but we know the 1000 is a good formula for her," Dabernig said.
"I looked ahead in the program, and it was a little bit awkward to try and find the right race and I thought this did look the right race.
"She is jumping out of her skin."
"She (Cavalry Girl) is jumping out of her skin." - Tom Dabernig
Looking beyond Saturday, Dabernig said a strong performance could earn Cavalry Girl a shot at the G1 Moir Stakes over 1000 metres, which this year will be run at Sandown while Moonee Valley undergoes redevelopment.
"She's never been to Sandown, and that track is racing pretty tired, and we know she loves Caulfield and, or the Flemington straight," Dabernig said.
"If she won on Saturday, the Moir could be a consideration, while the other thing is because she's raced through winter we could freshen her up and come back later in the spring for a race maybe during Melbourne Cup week."
It shapes as a competitive contest and, while Cavalry Girl looks one of the leading chances, 1000-metre specialist Bazaball Rewarded (Reward For Effort) and the tough, consistent sprinter Along The River (Written Tycoon) who loves Caulfield also look major threats.
Bangkok Hottie hard to beat on the road to bigger things
Exciting David Payne-trained 3-year-old filly Bangkok Hottie (Too Darn Hot {GB}) resumes in Saturday's BM72 Midway Handicap at Randwick and appears ideally placed to launch another promising campaign.
The filly won twice at metropolitan level as a 2-year-old last season and Payne believes she has the talent to develop into a genuine contender in Sydney's Princess Series. Saturday's assignment provides the perfect starting point before stepping up in grade later this month.
Bangkok Hottie | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
"We don't know (how good she is) but she showed us nice ability as a 2-year-old," Payne told Racenet.
"She has come back strong so now we will step her up and see, and take on the better 3-year-olds."
"She (Bangkok Hottie) has come back strong so now we will step her up and see, and take on the better 3-year-olds." - David Payne
Bangkok Hottie heads to the races without a recent trial after an untimely mishap disrupted her preparation.
"She was supposed to trial but unfortunately the day before she threw the jockey off and she galloped around the track so I didn't want to stress her the next day," Payne said.
"It was just one of those things, she got a fright and off she went but it was nothing serious."
David Payne | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Despite her obvious class, Bangkok Hottie will not have it all her own way after drawing wide in a race with plenty of depth.
The in-form Matt Vella-trained Twinkling Star (Zoustar) shapes as a major danger, while the John Thompson-trained Melanite (Dirty Work) and last-start winner Let's Go Again (Turffontein) also look genuine winning chances in an open contest.
