Saturday Summary: Angel Capital finds his Group 1 wings

Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything

Angel Capital finally gets his Group 1 moment

Sometimes a win or result feels destined to happen, and throughout his career, the talent Angel Capital (Harry Angel {Ire}) has shown has left little debate that he possessed true Group 1 quality.

It seemed more a matter of when than if he would get his spoils, and on Saturday in the G1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes at Caulfield, everything finally fell into place for the Yulong-owned 5-year-old, who gained his first victory at the elite level.

There was plenty of tempo as expected, with Regal Award (Ole Kirk) leading in the hands of Lachlan Neindorf, while Evaporate (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) kept him company on the outside. Craig Williams utilised his inside draw to push Lady Shenandoah (Snitzel) up to hold the trail.

Regal Award still had them rolling after the turn and gave a strong kick. Last year’s winner Sepals (Calyx {GB}) peeled through and presented as a winning chance, but on the outside Melham had clear running aboard the good-looking entire and was charging home.

Angel Capital ultimately scored by a comfortable three-quarters of a length from the brave Sepals, while Regal Award and Lady Shenandoah stuck on well for third and fourth respectively.

Chris Waller’s stable representative Darren Beadman praised the horse after he finally secured his first career Group 1 victory.

“He’s (Angel Capital) 5-years-old. He’s been unlucky so many times in Group 1’s. Congratulations to Mr Zhang and the whole Yulong team. They are heavily invested here in Australia.

"He’s been deserving of the Group 1 win for so many runs. The way this track panned out today with a good, strong speed up front, Ben (Melham) has the utmost faith in the horse and he rode him to perfection.”

Melham was equally relieved to see the horse finally secure the elite-level victory his ability had promised for so long.

“Finally. This horse, we’ve sort of praised his ability from day dot. I just knew today, it's the first time he's been in a suitable race where I just thought everything would go to plan and in the right conditions.

“Then we got here this morning, they cut the track in half. Honestly, he needs all the track he can get. We weren't too happy about that, but we found a race with good speed. He got into a good rhythm, and obviously Chris is a master at setting these horses for these races.

“He looked a picture in the yard when I got on him, gave a little pig root going out on the track and then he just rolled to the barriers beautifully in the zone.

“He's always been like it, he just needs to chill out a little bit, which he's come a long way. But he's raced against the best company all the time and he's stiff not to have won a Group One up until now. As I said, the ability's there with him. When things go his way, he's a very, very good horse. He deserves it.”

Sales info: Angel Capital was purchased for $400,000 by Upper Bloodstock from the Mill Park Stud draft at the 2023 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.

Pedigree info: Angel Capital is one of three Group-winners out of the classy Teofilo (Ire) mare Bahamas, who was a winner over 1600 metres and placed in the G1 Australasian Oaks, G3 South Australia Fillies Classic and the Listed Alexandra Stakes.

Her other winners are the 10-time winner Berkeley Square (Territories {Ire}) who won at Group 2 level, and Listed level three times, including in the Listed Ballarat Cup twice, her other winner is Senor Toba (Toronado {Ire}) who was a Group 3-winner in both Australia and Hong Kong, and he also placed at Group 1 level also in both jurisdictions.

This is also the extended family of the G2 Matriarch Stakes winner and Group 1-placed Affair To Remember (Toronado {Ire}) and the three-time Listed winner St Trinians (Black Hawk {GB}).

Bahamas in recent times has left a 2-year-old colt named Disraeli (Blue Point {Ire}) and she foaled a City Of Troy (USA) colt in August.

Autumn Glow keeps burning bright

It was only a small but select field in the $1 million G2 Seven Stakes, but it contained plenty of quality, with all five runners being Group 1 winners headlined by Autumn Glow (The Autumn Sun).

In the aftermath, Autumn Glow was once again the star of the show, recording her 13th win from only 14 career starts by just under a length and a half, taking her prize money to a tick under $9.8 million.

While some may have expected a larger winning margin, James McDonald was never particularly concerned. He elected to take bad luck out of the equation by assuming the lead, although that left an opportunity for his opposition to apply pressure earlier than possibly expected.

Nash Rawiller aboard Gringotts (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) and Chad Schofield aboard Ceolwulf (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) both made early runs approaching the turn and nearly got to terms.

It looked to be a race on, and while Autumn Glow never really appeared in danger, she still had to work through the early part of the straight when the sprint went on quickly before running away to score comfortably.

Aeliana (Castelvecchio) ran on strongly very late to snare second and make it a Waller quinella, with Ceolwulf third. Idle Flyer (Dundeel {NZ}) ran into fourth and Gringotts tailed the field, but he was beaten only two lengths, highlighting the competitive nature of the sprint home.

Waller was pleased with another display of Autumn Glow’s versatility.

“It was good to watch and showed how versatile she is, like she can put herself there or can go back, she just has a great turn of foot. I know she was the short priced favourite but the horses in this race are all handy horses. There was a sprint from the 500 metres when it got serious so it was good to see her lift and draw clear in the end,” Waller said.

Asked about the mare’s condition, Waller added:

“I’m pretty happy where she is at. There is some improvement to come, we haven’t screwed her down yet.

“We will just look after her and she will do the rest.”

With Autumn Glow now heading towards the G1 King Charles III Stakes rather than The Everest, Waller said the decision had been made with the full group comfortable with the path ahead.

“I’m happy and comfortable with the decision (to go to the King Charles III Stakes). I don’t have second thoughts, once we make a decision as a group, the ownership, jockey, my team, we run with it. It hope it is a great contest and if something beats Ka Ying Rising good luck to them.”

McDonald said the race developed into a strong dash home.

“It was three-quarter pace around then dash home. They came to me, let her balance up and she went away with it. She did what we needed her to do today. She had fun doing it. Ears pricked the whole way. You probably could say they got to her at the top of the straight.”

Asked whether he had intended to lead before the race, McDonald explained:

“Not really. I’d have been happy in the three positions, first, second or third. Once I got control, she just did it herself. When they came at her, got to remember second up, Aeliana ran her to a head. She will jump out of the ground third up.”

Sales info: Bred by Newhaven Park, Autumn Glow was sold as a weanling for $600,000 to Silverdale Farm and Shrone Bloodstock, before topping the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale at $1.8 million, when purchased by Arrowfield Pastoral and Hermitage Thoroughbreds.

Pedigree info: One of two individual Group 1 winners from three to race out of South African Champion Sprinter and multiple Group 1 winner Via Africa (Var {USA}), Autumn Glow is a three-quarter-sister to G1 Golden Rose Stakes winner In The Congo. By Arrowfield Stud’s The Autumn Sun, she is one of five individual G1 winners for the stallion.

Via Africa has yet to produce a live-foal since Autumn Glow, but she is due to produce a foal by Zoustar at the end of this month. Her daughter Protea (Vancouver) has a 2-year-old filly by Dundeel (NZ) and foaled a The Autumn Sun filly in late August.

Birdman flies high in the Underwood

It was the classy Birdman (Ire) (Free Eagle {Ire}) who claimed the G1 Underwood Stakes at Caulfield in dominant fashion, adding to his first Group 1 success in the G1 Doomben Cup earlier this year.

The victory also strengthened Birdman’s credentials for the G1 Cox Plate, which will be held at Flemington this year, a track where he has previously won the G2 Blamey Stakes.

As expected, Lindermann (Lonhro) took the lead in the hands of Blake Shinn and rolled along at a genuine tempo, with Kingswood (GB) (Roaring Lion {USA}) sitting outside the leader.

William Pike managed to slot the favourite Cosmic Crusader (NZ) (Maurice {Jpn}) into the one-one position. Approaching the straight, it soon became apparent that Lindermann was not travelling, while Kingswood and Cosmic Crusader loomed as chances.

Ben Melham aboard Birdman had Cosmic Crusader’s back and went straight past him with a sharp turn of foot, running away to score by just under two lengths.

Cosmic Crusader was as brave as ever in second, while the $101 shot Attrition (Churchill {Ire}) ran on well for third.

Waller’s stable representative Darren Beadman praised the way Chris Waller had prepared the talented gelding.

“Chris just gets the timing right perfectly when it comes to placing these horses, knowing when to put the acid on them. He ran in a nice lead-up race in the Memsie, into this. Before Ben (Melham) went out, he said they are going to pair up very quickly.

"He said ‘I could be box set’, but he backed his judgement, got on the back of Willie Pike (Cosmic Crusader). He dragged him into the race perfectly. He was the fresh horse on the scene. He stood up to be counted today and it was a great ride by Benny and a great effort by the Melbourne staff.”

Asked about Birdman’s potential G1 Cox Plate hopes, Beadman said:

“Two thousand at Flemington looks made to order in a sense. I think he’s a better mile-and-a-quarter horse than he is 2400-metre horse. Keep the freshness in his legs and he’s got that acceleration. We’ll leave that to the master trainer. He’s been there plenty of time and he knows what it takes.”

Melham was delighted with the win and the upward trajectory of the gelding.

“It was very good. He's been a revelation this horse. He really found his niche last time in. Put the writing on the wall first up, it was a good run. He had a trial obviously just to keep him up to the mark and I was a bit worried he felt the ground a little bit.

“But race day with the blinkers on and we had a beautiful trail, we just come off a little bit before the corner when the sprint come on and I gave him a squeeze just to pick him up and he picked him up quickly he got there too soon and it's not his go that he had a good look around, won with a bit in hand so I think he's a good 2,000 metre horse.

Sales info: Birdman was privately purchased by Matt Becker of Group 1 Bloodstock alongside Ozzie Kheir after showing some promising early form in Ireland and placing at Group 2 level at Royal Ascot.

Pedigree info: Birdman is by the G1 Prince Of Wales Stakes winner Free Eagle (Ire) and is one of three winners out of Carol (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}), who was a winner over a mile.

Carol comes from a strong international family with classy performers including the dual Group 3-winning stallion Elusive Pimpernel (USA) and Champion filly Snow Fairy (Ire) (Intikhab {USA}), who won six Group 1 races around the world.

Mazu turns back the clock in The Shorts

A classy line-up of 11 sprinters accepted for the G2 The Shorts at Randwick, with only one runner, Ninja (Farnan), already locked into a spot in the G1 The Everest, which is approaching quickly.

It was the evergreen 8-year-old gelding Mazu (Maurice {Jpn}) who proved too quick, with Rachel King producing a brilliant ride to dictate throughout.

In the running Mal Coupe (Xtravagant {NZ}) and Joliestar (Zoustar) were were prominent with James McDonald having little luck from the wide gate and was forced to race three-wide on the pace without cover.

Not a lot changed throughout the race, which developed into a bunched finish off the slowish tempo for a strong sprint race.

Joliestar was tenacious as always in her first run since returning from her Royal Ascot adventure running second, while King’s Secret (Shalaa {Ire}) was brave nearer the inner and Spicy Martini (Justify {USA}) was a strong run in fourth.

Mazu, however, was in a right mood before the race, stopping several times on the route to the start and showing little affection for the clerk of the course assisting him to the barriers - behaviour not uncommon for the star sprinter.

“He walked straight out of here going, no, no I'll go to the gates, and then stopped up there. Sometimes he can stop two or three times on the way to the gates,” Joseph Pride said.

“He's going to beat me sooner or later.

“It's funny, he's so reluctant to get there, but then so quick to get home.”

While most of the field were chasing an Everest slot, Pride is not so sure about the 8-year-old after he has already contested the race three times, with his best effort being a third behind Giga Kick (Scissor Kick) in 2022.

“To be fair to him, he's had a few goes in Everests and it's not really his race,” Pride said.

“The only thing I would say is if on the day it was wet, he'd probably be in the contest. But other than that, running a nice sixth or seventh doesn't interest me a lot.”

Winning jockey Rachel King praised the eight-year-old’s honesty and consistency.

“They should never forget about him. He's so honest.

“Even though he gives us hell before the race, he really wants to be there.”

Sales info: Mazu was purchased for $180,000 by Triple Crown Syndications from the Parsons Creek Pastoral Co draft at the 2020 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.

Pedigree info: Mazu is one of six winners out of the three-time winner and multiple Group-placed Flying Spur filly Chatelaine.

As well as leaving Mazu, Chatelaine has left the G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes winner Headway (Charge Forward) who also placed in the G1 Golden Slipper.

This is also the family of the Listed Redoute’s Choice Stakes winner Let Me Sleep On It (Manhattan Rain) and the Group 3-placed juvenile She Turns Heads (Headwater).