Angel Capital lands first strike in Autumn Stakes ahead of Group 1 targets

An improved Autumn Capital showed he is the one to beat in the Group 1 Australian Guineas after a sensational return in the Group 2 Autumn Stakes at Caulfield.

Angel Capital surges to victory in the Group 2 Autumn Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday. Picture: Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images

Angel Capital launched the first of three planned autumn strikes in the Group 2 Autumn Stakes at Caulfield.

Cranbourne trainer Clinton McDonald earmarked three assignments in the gelding’s preparation, growing in value with each appearance.

Angel Capital ($2.70 fav) descended on his rivals from off the pace in the Autumn Stakes to post his third win in only six outings.

Flemington will be Angel Capital’s next stop on his brief autumn tour on March 1 before a possible return to the venue later that month.

“He’ll go straight to the (Australian) Guineas I’d say and then if he ran well there we’d go to the All-Star Mile,” McDonald said

“Then we’d pull up stumps and get him ready for the spring.

“I think he’s a horse that doesn’t need a lot of racing.

“He’s one of those horses (it’s best to) keep him fresh, keep home well and he’ll do the rest.”

Angel Capital resumes with a win first up! 👊@BMelhampic.twitter.com/NyLGq645kw

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) February 8, 2025

Angel Capital finished sixth at his only previous 1600m run in the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas in the spring.

However, jockey Ben Melham said the son of Harry Angel had since matured into the perfect 1600m horse.

“He wasn’t himself when he ran in the Guineas last time at Caulfield but he’s just improved as a horse,” Melham said.

“He’s matured, he’s filled out, he’s strengthened and he’s just been breathing fire at home.

“I reckon he’ll be pretty hard to beat in the Guineas this time.”

Early leader Plymouth ($10) fought on well to hold second, 1½ lengths from the winner while Evaporate ($3.70) was third but should have finished closer to the winner after striking trouble in the straight.

Southport Tycoon finished second in last year’s Autumn Stakes before going on to win the Australian Guineas.

The Mick Price-trained Heart Of Dreams was the last horse to complete the Autumn Classic and Australian Guineas double in 2009.

Rey boosts Group 1 ambitions

Gilbert Gardiner

Rey Magnerio stamped Group 1 ambitions with a tenacious victory in the Herald Sun Group 2 Rubiton Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on Saturday.

The tough and mightily consistent sprinter, trained by Robbie Griffiths, reeled in Insurrection late to get the result with Prairie Flower and Maharba in third and fourth respectively.

Rey Magnerio has won eight of 18 starts and placed another seven times.

The lightly-raced five-year-old gelding is set to return to Caulfield in a fortnight for the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) en route to the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington.

“Looking at the way his form finished in the spring and how he has come back, you would think he’s going to be right in the thick of things in an Oakleigh Plate,” Griffiths said.

“It was always the plan to go there and then the Newmarket, so he’s kicked it off the right way today.”

Rey Magnerio drives home late and scores! 💪@JyeMcNeilpic.twitter.com/kipqe3mZom

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) February 8, 2025

Insurrection led and dictated the race under champion jockey Blake Shinn but could not hold out Rey Magnerio late.

“I thought he couldn’t run any better than third,” Griffiths said.

“They were cantering and I thought ‘Blake’s going to win this (on Insurrection) and they’ll run it that order’, but when it gets to a fight, he’s a fighter – he’s well-named.”

Legendary WWE wrestler Rey Mysterio was the inspiration for Rey Magnerio’s name.

Rey Magnerio finished ninth in the Oakleigh Plate last year – beaten only 2½ lengths – as a developing sprinter.

The gelding has won two of eight since and only once (fourth) finished outside the top three.

He raced five times last spring, placed in fourth and won a Listed race at Flemington.

“He put the form on the board during the spring and that stood up with Maharba running so well in the Winterbottom,” Griffiths said.

“He came back and he appeared stronger, his trials indicated he was better, and he proved it today that he’s gone another level.”

Originally published as Angel Capital lands first strike in Autumn Stakes ahead of Group 1 targets