‘I felt sick’ was the reaction from Clinton Mcdonald after Miss Ole’s debut race at Warrnambool, which turned to joy and relief at Sandown Hillside on Saturday.
The two-year-old filly by Ole Kirk missed the start badly on debut in the Vobis Gold Strike at Warrnambool which cruelled her chances, something that was quickly rectified her next time out.
Heavily supported into a $2.50 favourite with wagering companies, Miss Ole came clear late under Ben Melham for a strong win in the Sportsbet Jockey Watch Handicap (1000m) to score by 3/4 lengths over the previously unbeaten Saluted ($3.80), with another 3/4 of a length back to $14 chance Espana.
“No, I wasn’t expecting her to miss the kick (at Warrnambool),” McDonald said.
“She’s a very good filly. She’s always shown us a lot, she’s still learning her craft but it was good and she’s come on from it.”
“She’s learning all the time. From the run from Warrnambool to today, what she’s shown us at home is that she’s really come on big time.
“So we we’re very confident coming here today. We just thought she had to get it right, and she did. She was still a little bit fierce early, but we knew she’d be very strong late.”
A $360,000 purchase at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, McDonald believes Miss Ole is certainly up to stakes grade in the future, as his Cranbourne-based operation looks to strengthen its Spring stocks.
“She might have one more start on the 7th of June. I think she’s a stakes horse for sure,” McDonald said.
“What she shows us at home, I think she keeps improving and getting better. Obviously the stallion is a gun, Ole Kirk. This filly is another one of his progeny that’s shown good ability.”
McDonald hopes Miss Ole can help fill the void left by some stable stars who have left his stable through one way or another.
“We lost a lot of good horses. We lost Stanley Express, Hayasugi, Angel Capital, Refusetobeenglish.”
“But, lucky enough, Shane (McGrath, bloodstock agent) been really helping me, you know, drive the business and get more horses, and it’s going well.”
“We’ve got some really nice horses coming through. It’s the most horses we’ve had on the books and I think there’s 130 horses in, there’s only 19 that have raced.”
“She (Miss Ole) was nice and focused today, she was alert but not overdoing it. I think she’s a filly with a bright future and we’re looking forward to the Spring with her.”
