Angel Capital has finally achieved a breakthrough Group 1 success, capturing the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes at Caulfield.
Previously finishing fourth as the favoured $2.90 elect in the 1400m event last year, Angel Capital reversed the result under a superb Ben Melham performance.
The five-year-old gelding surged past the 2025 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes winner Sepals ($11) in the final 100 metres to record a three-quarter-of-a-length victory, with Angel Capital ($5) crossing the line first.
Regal Award ($9.50), who had led from the start, finished a long-neck back in third.
Angel Capital began his racing journey with Clinton McDonald at Cranbourne before being acquired by Yulong and transferred to the stables of Chris Waller.
The Waller team had considered a start in the Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) scheduled for next Sunday at Caulfield but shifted their focus to Saturday’s race upon assessing Angel Capital’s favourable handicap.
Darren Beadman, a former champion jockey and representative for the Waller stable, expressed the significant relief felt by the stable in witnessing Angel Capital’s attainment of Group 1 status.
“He’s been unlucky so many times in Group 1’s,” Beadman said. “He’s been deserving of the Group 1 win for so many runs and the way this track panned out today with a good, a strong speed up front, and Ben has the utmost faith in the horse, he rode him to perfection.”
Beadman highlighted Melham’s crucial contribution to Angel Capital’s maiden Group 1 victory.
Melham had been instrumental in Angel Capital’s early career when the horse was under McDonald’s care.
“He’s shown a lot of faith and confidence in the horse,” Beadman added. “There wouldn’t be too many jockeys that would have the key to unlock the gift that he’s got, the horse. Benny’s riding in career best form and looks strong and fit.”
Melham had consistently praised Angel Capital’s ability from their initial rides together.
He had guided the now five-year-old to wins in the McKenzie Stakes at Moonee Valley and the Caulfield Guineas Prelude as a three-year-old. Post-transfer to Waller’s yard, Melham had limited opportunities on the gelding, though these included Group 1 placings in the C F Orr Stakes and the Newmarket Handicap last season.
“We’ve sort of praised his ability from day dot,” Melham commented. “I just knew today that it’s the first time he’s been in a suitable race where I thought everything would go to plan with the right conditions. Then we got here this morning, and they cut the track in half. Honestly, he needs all the track he can get, so I wasn’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, he gave a little pig root going out on the track and then he just rolled to the barriers beautifully in the zone. The ability’s never been the question with him. He’s a very good colt, as you’ve seen there today, but he’s just so big and he’s such a brute. He’s not an easy horse to ride, but when things go his way, you’ve seen what he can do.”
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