Trainer Chris Waller expressed optimism about the prospects of five-year-old sprinter Angel Capital as the horse prepares to begin his spring campaign in Saturday’s $300,000 Group 2 Missile Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick. Angel Capital, owned by Yulong, remains a potential stallion candidate thanks to strong performances at the highest level, with the connections still aiming for a Group 1 win to enhance his stud credentials.
Angel Capital’s record includes three placings in top-tier races during his four-year-old season. These efforts feature runner-up finishes in both the CF Orr Stakes and William Reid Stakes, as well as a fourth-place finish in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes, where he was considered unlucky. Despite the absence of a major win so far, Waller sees steady improvement in the colt and expects him to continue maturing throughout the campaign.
“He is one I get defensive about because I just think he is a lovely horse and keeps on making progress,” Waller said. “I see the things that go against him more than the things he does wrong. I just think he is steadily maturing and steadily improving."
Acquired by Waller after seven starts under previous trainer Clinton McDonald, Angel Capital has reportedly maintained the right attitude and continues to develop under the new trainer’s guidance. Based at Waller’s Rosehill stable, the colt benefits from a training environment that keeps colts and fillies separate, which Waller believes contributes positively to their development. He noted that Angel Capital appears to improve incrementally with each run, estimating the horse to be roughly 20 percent better than earlier in his career.
The Missile Stakes will serve as an important stepping stone for Angel Capital and Waller hopes a solid run will set the stage for upcoming Group 1 targets over 1400 meters, including the Winx Stakes at Royal Randwick on August 22 and the Memsie Stakes at Caulfield on August 29. Angel Capital entered these Group 1 races with odds of $8 and $5 respectively.
The Missile Stakes field is compact but competitive, featuring notable rivals such as the Everest hopeful Ninja, Napoleonic, Gangsta Granny, and Midnight Dynamite, who has enjoyed strong form recently including two Listed wins. James McDonald is set to ride Angel Capital, a partnership Waller trusts heading into the race.
“Angel Capital is going to have to be good to win the Winx Stakes or a Memsie, so it’s a good starting point for him,” Waller said. He also noted the tactical considerations given the horse’s wide barrier draws, explaining that Angel Capital often races from behind to secure cover during races.
In addition to Angel Capital’s campaign, Waller fields a strong team at Randwick across the card. In the TAB Premier’s Cup Prelude (1800m), James McDonald will also ride Tazima, the $2.15 favorite, who has won four of his past five starts including a victory over this course and distance on July 11. Tazima will be supported by stablemates Matusalem and Elliptical, who have shown promising form leading into the race.
Waller highlighted Tazima’s versatility and recent authoritative wins at the distance, stating, “He is versatile on tracks and the 1800m distance is just perfect, so there is no excuses.” Matusalem enters second-up after a strong finish in his spring return, while Elliptical finished fifth behind Tazima in their last meeting.