Trainer Clinton Mcdonald has taken advantage of a full race day experience at Sandown with Australian Guineas favourite Angel Capital rather than a jump-out at Cranbourne.
Arriving 90 minutes before the exhibition gallop between races one and two at Sandown’s Wednesday meeting, Angel Capital sweated up before the workout with stablemate Acid Wash.
With Ben Melham aboard, the newly purchased Yulong-owned colt just shaded Acid Wash at the end of the workout.
“It was fantastic work,” McDonald said.
“He needed to have a strong gallop because he had just done too well since his first-up run.
“It was an ideal scenario to bring him here, put him under race day conditions, being at the races, the noise, getting the juices flowing.
“He had a nice sweat before the gallop, which I thought he would because he was up on his toes, but the work was very slick.”
Angel Capital scored first-up in the Group 2 Autumn Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on February 8 and heads the market for the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday week.
McDonald said he had considered giving Angel Capital a jump-out at Cranbourne last Monday.
“I think he’s got more out of this,” McDonald said.
“At Cranbourne he trots down 800 metres and he’s at the trial, whereas he’s had a 45-minute float ride and a 45-minute float ride home today.
“It takes the juice out of him.
“He had a gallop on Saturday morning, and this will be his main piece of work leading into the Guineas.”
A $400,000 yearling purchase by Harry Angel, Angel Capital is a half-brother to Senor Toba and Berkeley Square.
News came out earlier in the week that Angel Capital is the latest big-name purchase by Yulong Stud, looking to add another potential stallion to its roster.
Yulong’s first ever stallion was Grunt, who won the Australian Guineas in 2018.
“We’re very grateful for Yulong to get on board and buy such a lovely colt, now it’s up to us to get the job done at Group 1 level,” McDonald said.
“I’m pretty confident that we can.”
McDonald said the Group 1 All-Star Mile (1600m) at Flemington on March 8 remains on the cards for Angel Capital depending on the colt’s performance.
