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McDonald aims up with gem 2YO pair

Sunday, 05 May 2024
McDonald aims up with gem 2YO pair
Clinton McDonald admits he is bouncing out of bed when it comes to planning the next steps with his smart juveniles Angel Capital and Stanley Express.

Ultra-impressive debut winner Angel Capital has already arrived in Queensland for their carnival, while Showdown winner Stanley Express is set to join his stablemate in the sunshine state.

Angel Capital, who is the $400,000 half-brother to Berkley Square, flew to Queensland this week and is set to run in the Group 2 Spirit of Boom Classic (1200m) on May 18 at Doomben.

The Harry Angel colt will then progress to the G2 BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) three weeks later before the G1 J.J Atkins Stakes (1600m) on June 15.

“He is potentially the best horse we have ever trained… he is a very, very good colt,” McDonald said.

“He has shown us a lot at home and been an excitement machine.

“He has done it over 1000 metres but that’s not his go and he will be very good over a mile and that’s what we will set him up for.

“We feel Angel Capital can be a Caulfield Guineas horse.”

McDonald said Stanley Express, who won the $1 million Showdown on debut, is set to run the son of Starspangledbanner this Saturday in either the G3 David Coles AM Stakes (1200m) at Morphettville or the two-year-old handicap (1100m) at Caulfield.

The Cranbourne trainer said the horse could be a dual acceptor before making his decision on the gelding who will then fly to Queensland for a spell.

“Stanley Express will make a magnificent sprinting three-year-old he is a big imposing horse,” he said.

“He is not just a speedy horse; he has got a turn of foot and weighs 548 kilos so he is a big horse and is only doing it on raw ability.

“We are hoping we can get him to a race like the Coolmore.”

Both Angel Capital and Stanley Express are owned by separate Hong Kong interests.

“At this stage the horses are racing in Australia,” McDonald said.

“We are very fortunate to be able to train them and whatever their wishes are is up to them.

“All we can do is the best for them and if they chose to leave them here fantastic and if they decided to take them to Hong Kong they are going to have very nice horses to race and top echelon.”

Acid Wash is also set to race over the Queensland carnival for the stable, while Blue Diamond winner Hayasugi will also be prepared in Brisbane ahead of her spring campaign, which is likely to be centred around the Golden Rose.

Ben Sporle