Clinton McDonald and Ben Melham work together to get McKenzie Stakes win with Angel Capital at The Valley

Trainer Clinton McDonald will aim to stretch out Angel Capital to the mile of the Caulfield Guineas following the colt’s brilliant win in the McKenzie Stakes at The Valley.

Ben Melham combined with Angel Capital to win the McKenzie Stakes at The Valley on Saturday. Picture: Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images

Sticking to simple roles could bring a Caulfield Guineas triumph for jockey Ben Melham and Cranbourne trainer Clinton McDonald.

The pair has had their share of success over the years but both agreed the partnership works best when things are defined.

“We worked it out very quickly that I train them and he rides them and it seems to be a good recipe,” McDonald said.

Melham could chase a second consecutive Caulfield Guineas win on the McDonald-trained Angel Capital, after saluting last year on the Ciaron Maher-trained Griff, following the three-year-old’s first-up win in Listed McKenzie Stakes (1200m).

TAB promoted Angel Capital to $15 in Caulfield Guineas betting after his latest win.

Injury issues kept Melham off Angel Capital’s back during the three-year-old’s first preparation but the pair combined smoothly despite a slow start to the McKenzie Stakes.

However, racing back in the field proved no impediment to Angel Capital ($5) as the son of Harry Angel rounded up his opposition in the straight to retain his unbeaten first-up record.

Angel Capital takes out the McKenzie Stakes! 👊@BMelham for @cmcdonaldracingpic.twitter.com/2Pf3aLzDi2

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) September 7, 2024

Bosustow ($13) and Sergeant Major ($10) made promising starts to their spring preparations, filling the minor placings behind the impressive winner.

“It was a bit busy early, the speed came off through the middle and he just got up on the chewy a little bit but he always felt like he had the race in his keeping a long way out,” Melham said.

McDonald said connections were still undecided whether Angel Capital would be a pure sprinter or stretch out to the 1600m of next month’s Caulfield Guineas.

“I do have concerns, is he too brilliant to be a miler?” McDonald said.

“He’s just got that electric turn of foot and for him to do that today against good opposition, it’s encouraging and he’s only going to get better.

“The next option is the Guineas Prelude and then into the Caulfield Guineas. We’ll see how he pulls up.”

McDonald’s late father Ross won the 2007 Caulfield Guineas with Weekend Hussler before the former star dropped back to 1200m to win the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington.

Anacheeva was the last colt to complete the McKenzie Stakes and Caulfield Guineas double in 2010.

EVAPORATE’S GUINEAS HOPES MATERIALISE

Evaporate continued to emerge as a Caulfield Guineas hope with another dominant win at The Valley.

Evaporate scored at the previous meeting at The Valley but looked a three-year-old capable of stepping up to stakes class in the coming weeks with a comfortable 2¾-length win under jockey Michael Dee.

Ben Hayes said a Group 2 contest, also at The Valley this month, appealed as the son of Per Incanto’s next assignment before a possible crack at the Caulfield Guineas in October.

Evaporate’s latest win, his third in a row, convinced TAB to trim his Caulfield Guineas quote from $51 to $26.

“In three weeks’ time there’s the Stutt Stakes, that would be the ideal race to head towards and that’s a traditional lead-up to a Caulfield Guineas,” Hayes, who trains Evaporate in partnership with his brothers Will and JD, said.

“The dream is alive at the moment so we’ve just got to get him there and he’ll be a nice chance.”

Evaporate races away to take out the opener at The Valley!

Michael Dee aboard for @lindsayparkracepic.twitter.com/RjtWJlTsr1

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) September 7, 2024

SMART SILMARILLION

Silmarillion opened her account with a stylish victory in the Listed Atlantic Jewel Stakes (1200m).

A five-start maiden going into the race, James Cummings-trained Silmarillion handled the tight turning track with aplomb under jockey Kerrin McEvoy.

“Full credit to James and the team, they picked a nice option for her down here, and full credit to her,” McEvoy said.

“It was her first run this way and she handled it with aplomb. She handled it really well.”

Cummings’s Melbourne representative Nacim Dilmi enjoyed easy watch on Saturday.

“You’re never too confident too early but Kerrin knew the filly, he knew what he had under him and she put them away comfortably,” Dilmi said.

Silmarillion with a late kick to break her maiden! 👊@KPMcEvoy for James Cummings pic.twitter.com/uJ5U4Bh4zV

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) September 7, 2024

Originally published as Clinton McDonald and Ben Melham work together to get McKenzie Stakes win with Angel Capital at The Valley