British Angel ridden by Tom Madden wins the Nutrien Ag Solutions Casterton Handicap at Casterton Racecourse on May 19, 2024 in Casterton, Australia. (Pat Scala/Racing Photos)
Trainer Tom Dabernig is confident British Angel has the credentials to become a city winner, despite the filly flopping in the metropolitan area at her only previous attempt.
After three wins on the country circuit, Dabernig is keen to try the filly again in town in the Thoroughbred Club of Australia Handicap (1200m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
British Angel is a dual winner at Casterton along with success at Terang from her seven starts and there were excuses for her flop at Sandown in March when finishing a long last.
After her Terang victory, Dabernig brought British Angel to Sandown where she bumped into Group 1 Australasian Oaks winning filly Coco Sun.
“She had the one run in town, but she had cardiac arrythmia, so it reads like she went poorly,” Dabernig said.
British Angel was reset following the Sandown flop, finishing fifth at Warrnambool five weeks later during the Carnival.
The track that day favoured horses on the speed and near the fence, and British Angel drew barrier 14 and came from second last to finish fifth behind stablemate Romantic Choice.
Following the Warrnambool performance, British Angel was taken to Casterton where she led throughout to claim a benchmark 70 race against older horses.
“She’s won three now in the bush, and it was a benchmark 70 that she won at Casterton,” Dabernig said.
“At Warrnambool she drew out wide and was in that ordinary part of the track that day, so her run was good to finish where she did.
“She doesn’t mind a bit of soft ground, so if there happened to be a bit of rain it won’t hurt her, and I think she’s earned herself a shot at a three-year-old race in town.”
Dabernig has long been a proponent of more races for three-year-olds in the city area, especially fillies, even if they are run at benchmark, or as no metropolitan win races.
“A $150,000 race in town for fillies like her, it’s a great incentive for owners and breeders,” Dabernig said.