News

Angel Capital defeats Sepals to win his maiden G1 in Sir Rupert Clarke

19th Sep 2026

Angel Capital (Harry Angel) silenced his doubters and likely confirmed his place on the stallion roster at Yulong at the end of his career with a scintillating victory in today’s G1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes at Caulfield.

The 5YO entire settled midfield for jockey Ben Melham and when asked for an effort, exploded down the Caulfield home straight to claim his first G1 success in a time of 1:21.29, a whisker outside the track record held by Exceed And Excel.

Angel Capital led in a G1 quinella for Inglis graduates today, defeating Sepals, himself the winner of the race 12 months ago.

Now a six-time winner of more than $2.9m, the David Peacock-bred Angel Capital is trained by Chris Waller and raced by Yulong, who bought the entire off the initial ownership group featuring Upper Bloodstock and Gregory Ho, who together purchased him from the Mill Park Stud draft for $400,000 at the Premier Yearling Sale.

Angel Capital (pictured) becomes the 126th individual Inglis graduate to win a G1 since 2018.

Since winning his maiden on debut as a 2YO, Angel Capital has raced exclusively at Stakes level, with today’s victory his fifth black type win and he also has three G1 placings and a G2 placing on his resume.

“At long last!’’ breeder Peacock, who was also celebrating his 80th birthday today, said.

“I was saying my prayers for him and when he got to the home turn I was like ‘C’mon mate, you can do it, you can do it.’ I was screaming at the TV, I was really thrilled because he’s tried so hard to win his Group 1 and I was so proud today, he won so well and they don’t give away Group 1s, they’re bloody hard to win.

“The colt went to the Inglis Premier Sale in the Mill Park draft – who do a wonderful job with all of my horses - and I was happy to retain him if he didn’t sell for the right price but when he hit $400,000 I was happy to let him go and what a wonderful journey it’s been to watch.

“We’ve still got the mare [Bahamas]. She’s a lovely mare, she just foaled down a lovely City of Troy colt, we’re very pleased with him and this year she’s going back to Harry Angel for the first time since Angel Capital.’’

Earlier on the Caulfield program Icelady (Maurice) broke her maiden in the best way possible, leading all the way to win the G2 Thousand Guineas Prelude.

The 3YO filly – bred by Arrowfield - had raced four times prior to today and finished runner-up on three occasions, including at G3 level.

But she is now not only not a maiden, but a fourth favourite for the G1 Thousand Guineas, to be run on October 17.

Trainer Ciaron Maher teamed up with Thompson Creek Thoroughbreds to buy Icelady for $130,000 at the Premier Yearling Sale, where she was offered by Glenn Lee Thoroughbreds.

Meanwhile at Randwick today the remarkable Autumn Glow (The Autumn Sun) story wrote its latest chapter when the 5YO mare made it win No.13 at start No.14 with a tenacious victory in the $1m G2 Seven Sunrise Stakes.

Recently crowned Australian Racehorse of the Year, Autumn Glow was having her second start of her preparation today, having defeated fellow Inglis graduate and three-time G1 winner Sheza Alibi first up in the G1 Winx Stakes.

Today’s performance was typically memorable – Autumn Glow led the five-horse field and while challenged at the top of the straight, when jockey James McDonald asked her for an effort she fought hard and broke her opposition over the final 200m.

Trained by Chris Waller and bred by Newhaven Park, Autumn Glow is now a winner of almost $9.8m – she cost Arrowfield and Hermitage $1.8m at the Easter Yearling Sale, where she was offered by Silverdale Farm.

“It was a dominant performance. She didn’t have it all her own way necessarily, she obviously led and was challenged earlier than she normally would be but she was just too good,’’ Arrowfield’s John Messara said.

“The plan was to not let anyone get away with a soft lead and get a distance ahead of her so [jockey] James [McDonald] took the initiative and led himself and she’s just too good at the moment.

“Small fields can cause upsets and although she was a red-hot favourite, you never know what’s going to happen. You’ve got tacticians in the jockeys on the other horses trying to beat her but she took control of the race, James knows her so well and that’s in our favour, it’s a great team and it’s onwards and upwards. I think it was a dominant win.

“It’s onto the [G1] King Charles next, that’s an important one for us, then there’s a good chance we’ll go to Melbourne – if she gets through the next period without any problem – for the Champions Mile. I’d love to get her to Flemington, horses like her should be seen at Flemington, it’s a great course and I’d love to show her to the Melbourne public.’’

The $5m G1 King Charles III Stakes will be run at Randwick on October 17.

Also at Randwick today the 8YO sprinter Mazu (Maurice) led in an Inglis graduates First 4 in the $1m G2 The Shorts and in doing so, put himself in contention for a fourth chance at a $20m G1 The Everest slot next month.

The Joe Pride-trained Mazu has contested The Everest in 2022, 2023 and 2025, with his best result so far being a 3rd placing behind Giga Kick four years ago.

Leading syndicators Triple Crown purchased Mazu for $180,000 at the Classic Yearling Sale, where he was offered by his breeder Parsons Creek.

He has now won just shy of $11.5m – today he defeated fellow Inglis graduates Joliestar, King’s Secret and Spicy Martini.

And Inglis graduates had a day out at Newcastle yesterday, winning two of the three feature races.

Progressive stayer Aethelwulf (Saxon Warrior) made it four consecutive victories when easily winning the G3 Newcastle Cup.

Aethelwulf has fast become the find of the spring so far – he is now a five-time winner from seven starts and is a $15 fourth favourite for the G1 Melbourne Cup in November.

Trainer Matthew Smith bought the Steve Flynn-bred Aethelwulf for $26,000 at the HTBA Yearling Sale, from the Gooree Park draft.

And Fully Lit (Hellbent) booked himself another start in the G1 Epsom Handicap in a fortnight by winning the G3 Cameron Hcp, a result that makes him exempt from the Epsom ballot.

Trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, Fully Lit won the $2m Inglis Millennium as a 2YO and is now a dual Stakes winner and G1 placed 4YO, having finished 2nd to Autumn Glow in last year’s Epsom.

Tracey Rook and Bill Duncan of Redfox Racing purchased Fully Lit from the Classic Yearling Sale for $60,000 from the draft of his breeder Glenlogan Park.