Leading hoop James McDonald is confident that Angharad will be perfectly suited to the conditions of the Group 3 Thoroughbred Club Stakes (1200m) at Melbourne’s Caulfield Racecourse on Saturday.
James McDonald will partner Angharad in the Thoroughbred Club Stakes at Caulfield. Photo: Daniel Costello
Angharad has not been seen at the races since failing to produce much and fifth in the Blake’s Marine Claret Stakes (1300m) at Hawkesbury on April 30th, but the filly has performed well at a handful of Sydney barrier trials in the lead-up to the Thoroughbred Club Stakes.
McDonald told Racing Ahead that the daughter of Exceed And Excel is far-better at the Victoria way of going despite having yet contested a race in the direction, and he is expecting her to lay a great account for herself first-up in the Thoroughbred Club Stakes.
“She does a little bit wrong in Sydney that way around, which sounds funny because she’s spent her whole life up there,” McDonald said.
“She tends to always favour her Melbourne leg and has always done that, hence why she’s down here.
“She’s definitely got the ability – she’s a really well-bred filly who has won a couple of races and obviously she has a hefty task in front of her, but hopefully she’s up to it.”
Trialling well in the lead-up to her competitive debut, Angharad was led to the lead in the Listed Gimcrack Stakes (1000m) on debut last October, but faded in the final straight to finish a lacklustre ninth.
Having been immediately returned to the paddock with a view towards 2016 targets, Angharad stamped herself as a filly to follow upon resuming for an impressive win in the Complete Roofing Warehouse Maiden (1200m) on March 24th.
Repeating the dose in the Anthony’s Kitchen & Bar Handicap (1350m) on April 17th, this time more comfortably, Angharad took a positive position in the Blake’s Marine Claret Stakes but was easily swooped by half the field in the final straight.
Undoubtedly facing her biggest career test to date in the Thoroughbred Club Stakes, Angharad will leave from the ideal barrier 3 and should have no issue performing well with only 55kgs in tow.
Angharad is currently available at 2016 Thoroughbred Club Stakes odds of $16 with online bookie Ladbrokes Australia.
