By Zdin

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MELBOURNE The build-up to the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1,600m) proved how quickly things can change in racing, but trainer Chris Waller appears to have decided on the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1,400m) as the next start for Angel Capital.

The 1,400m handicap is one of two A$1 million (S$852,000) Group 1 races at Caulfield on Sept 20, with the other highlight of the meeting being the Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1,800m).

The Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes will be run six days before the A$2 million weight-for-age event, the Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1,200m) at Moonee Valley on Sept 26.

The latter was the Sydney premier handler’s other option with Angel Capital.

“We’d love to go the Manikato, but he’ll get in well at the weights in the Sir Rupert Clarke and 1,400m will be no problem,” said Waller.

“I’d hate to miss the Sir Rupert Clarke and he draws the outside barrier in the Manikato.

“If we’re good enough to win the Manikato, I’m sure he’ll win multiple Group 1 races, so I think we’ll just try the Sir Rupert Clarke.”

Angel Capital, a four-year-old son of Harry Angel, resumed with a scintillating win in the Listed Chautauqua Stakes (1,200m) at Moonee Valley on Sept 6.

Then, he came home with a driving finish to beat the Mack Griffith-trained Compelling Truth by 3¾ lengths.

Now owned by Yulong Investments, the four-year-old galloper has won five races from eight starts, but it was his first victory for Waller at his first-up run.

Angel Capital was put under the care of trainer Clinton Mcdonald earlier, but after he was purchased by the Yulong owners, he has since transferred to Waller’s yard.

The champion trainer was excited to pull the covers off him after an aborted campaign earlier in the year.

“We have been patient with him. We’ve had to be patient with wet tracks and things like that, but he’s a really nice horse,” he said.

Already a winner of the Group 2 Autumn Stakes (1,400m) in February and the Group 3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude (1,400m) in September 2024, Angel Capital is one of 22 nominations for the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes, which also features the Ciaron Maher-trained Another Wil and rising star Sepals.

The Calyx four-year-old – who won at his last start in the BM100 Handicap (1,400m) at Caulfield on Aug 30 – is trained by former Kranji handler Cliff Brown.

Another Wil is also entered for the Underwood Stakes, so are 25 others, that includes last year’s winner Buckaroo, Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3,200m) fancy Sir Delius and last year’s Melbourne Cup champion Knight’s Choice. RACING AND SPORTS