The striking Harry Angel (IRE) colt Angel Capital raised the hopes of a local victory in the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas after overcoming difficulties to win Saturday’s Group III Sportsbet Caulfield Guineas Prelude (1400m).
Ridden by Ben Melham for Clinton McDonald, Angel Capital was smothered up with little room in the straight.
After striving to find a seam on his outside, Melham conceded defeat and darted back to the running rail. When in clear air, Angel Capital finished solidly to defeat the Written Tycoon colt Public Attention by a long-neck. It was a short-head back to the Snitzel colt Wanaruah, who did best of the favoured Sydney contingent.
It was the second consecutive stakes win for Angel Capital following the Listed Mckenzie Stakes at Moonee Valley.
“That was a great win. He had to get back to the worst ground and lost momentum, and the horses down the outside had the momentum,” McDonald said.
“We think he's a proper colt; he's showing us that now, and I'm just spewing a half of a bet with the track being a bit shifty.
“I'm rapt for the owners, Gregory Ho and his family and Upper Bloodstock. They do an amazing job, and I'm thankful they gave me this lovely colt to train.
“We know how to win both the Caulfield Guineas and Coolmore Stud Stakes). We did it with (Weekend) Hustler, so we might do it with this colt. He does things at home that only the real good ones do, and we're pretty happy with him.”
Angel Capital was a $400,000 purchase for Gregory Ho and Upper Bloodstock from the Mill Park Stud draft at the 2023 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
Bred by David Peacock, Angel Capital is the third stakes-winner for the Teofilo mare Bahamas after the Group II MVRC Moonee Valley Vase winner Berkeley Square and the Group III ATC Frank Packer Plate winner Senor Toba, who was runner-up in the Group 1 Queensland Derby and third in the Champions and Chater Cup at Sha Tin.
Bahamas was runner-up in the Group III South Australian Fillies Classic and was third in the Group 1 Schweppes Oaks.
The daughter of Teofilo has a 2-year-old colt by Blue Point (IRE), a $300,000 buy for Lucky Owners from the Mill Park draft at the Inglis Easter Australian Yearling Sale.
Bahamas was covered by Blue Point (IRE) in December after her Pinatubo filly foal died.
