Latest news with #ClintonMcDonald
News.com.au
26-05-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
Cranbourne trainer Clinton McDonald with unraced army preparing for spring
Youth will spearhead Cranbourne trainer Clinton McDonald 's rebuild after the loss of several of his stable stars. McDonald lost some of his best horses in the first half of 2025 for various reasons beyond his control, costing him potential feature wins during the autumn. Last year's Blue Diamond Stakes winner Hayasugi died after complications following surgery while smart three-year-olds Stanley Express and Refusetobeenglish left his stable to race in Hong Kong. McDonald also lost Group 2 winner Angel Capital to the Chris Waller stable after powerful owner and breeder Yu Long Investments bought the exciting three-year-old. 'We lost a lot of good horses,' McDonald said. 'In any stable, that puts a massive hole.' However, McDonald said his stable numbers have improved significantly in recent times with the aid of bloodstock agent Shane McGrath, with whom he combined to secure Hayasugi as a yearling. McDonald said more than 80 per cent of horses on the books have not raced, leaving the stable optimistic of a bumper spring period. 'Shane has been really helping me drive the business and get more horses and it's going well,' McDonald said. 'We've got some really nice young horses coming through. 'It's the most horses that we've had on the books. 'I think there's about 130 horses there and only 19 that have raced there's a lot of young horses there. 'But we've got a good team for the spring.' McDonald's stable has been firing during the late autumn period with seven winners from its last 21 runners, including a winning double at last Saturday's Sandown meeting. Three-year-old filly Ahha Ahha completed the stable's double after two-year-old Miss Ole made up for blowing the start at Warrnambool with a decisive win at her second outing. McDonald said he expected both horses to develop into stakes contenders during the spring.
The Australian
24-05-2025
- Sport
- The Australian
Clinton McDonald-trained Miss Ole wins at Sandown Hillside
Clinton McDonald was feeling sick soon after the start of Miss Ole's debut outing but was on much better terms with himself after the filly's Sandown outing on Saturday. Miss Ole was heavily backed but finished fifth after bungling the start on debut at Warrnambool last month but the filly showed the benefit of experience in the Sportsbet Jockey Watch Handicap (1000m). Punters were again keen to support Miss Ole, backing her from $3.60 to $2.60, but the daughter of Ole Kirk gave her backers few worries under jockey Ben Melham. Miss Ole sprinted well from midfield to defeat the previously unbeaten Saluted ($3.80) by three-quarters of a length while Espana ($14) made an encouraging debut when running on for third. McDonald said a Cranbourne jumpout between runs also helped Miss Ole's racing manners but the two-year-old had plenty of improvement left in her. • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! 'She's learning all the time,' McDonald said. 'From the run at Warrnambool to today, what she's shown us at home, she's come on big time. 'She was just a little bit fierce early and I knew she'd be very strong late. 'We gave her a little jumpout in between, a maintenance trial, and she jumped out well there so it wasn't a concern. 'We just tried to teach her to use herself, to go through her gears, and we saw that today.' Miss Ole's connections celebrate in the grandstand at Sandown. Picture: Scott Barbour / Racing Photos McDonald said Miss Ole would probably have another run at Flemington on June 7 before a break ahead of a spring three-year-old preparation. 'I think she's a stakes horse for sure on what she shows at home,' McDonald said. 'She's just going to keep improving.' McDonald went on to endear himself to racing radio listeners when emerging filly Ahha Ahha completed a stable double in the ive > Handicap (1400m). The Cranbourne trainer suggested punters take the Miss Ole / Ahha Ahha double on Saturday radio before Jamie Melham steered the $4 chance to a comfortable win. McDonald said Ahha Ahha had been unlucky at her previous two starts but had the perfect run at Sandown. 'I thought she probably should have won her last two,' McDonald said. 'She should have won at Cranbourne and there's merit to say, she probably would have won at Caulfield. 'She gets it wrong. Sometimes in behind, she's very green. 'But today, with Jamie's beautiful hands, she travelled sweetly, the run came and she was explosive again.'
News.com.au
24-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
‘She's come on big time': Clinton McDonald-trained filly Miss Ole rewards faithful punters with Sandown victory
Clinton McDonald was feeling sick soon after the start of Miss Ole's debut outing but was on much better terms with himself after the filly's Sandown outing on Saturday. Miss Ole was heavily backed but finished fifth after bungling the start on debut at Warrnambool last month but the filly showed the benefit of experience in the Sportsbet Jockey Watch Handicap (1000m). Punters were again keen to support Miss Ole, backing her from $3.60 to $2.60, but the daughter of Ole Kirk gave her backers few worries under jockey Ben Melham. Miss Ole sprinted well from midfield to defeat the previously unbeaten Saluted ($3.80) by three-quarters of a length while Espana ($14) made an encouraging debut when running on for third. McDonald said a Cranbourne jumpout between runs also helped Miss Ole's racing manners but the two-year-old had plenty of improvement left in her. 'She's learning all the time,' McDonald said. 'From the run at Warrnambool to today, what she's shown us at home, she's come on big time. 'She was just a little bit fierce early and I knew she'd be very strong late. 'We gave her a little jumpout in between, a maintenance trial, and she jumped out well there so it wasn't a concern. 'We just tried to teach her to use herself, to go through her gears, and we saw that today.' McDonald said Miss Ole would probably have another run at Flemington on June 7 before a break ahead of a spring three-year-old preparation. 'I think she's a stakes horse for sure on what she shows at home,' McDonald said. 'She's just going to keep improving.' Following a luckless run at Warrnambool, Miss Ole lands an important metro victory ✌ðŸ�» @cmcdonaldracing — (@Racing) May 24, 2025 McDonald went on to endear himself to racing radio listeners when emerging filly Ahha Ahha completed a stable double in the ive > Handicap (1400m). The Cranbourne trainer suggested punters take the Miss Ole / Ahha Ahha double on Saturday radio before Jamie Melham steered the $4 chance to a comfortable win. McDonald said Ahha Ahha had been unlucky at her previous two starts but had the perfect run at Sandown. Ahha Ahha utilises a beautiful trip, pouncing at the top of the straight & sprinting away for a comfortable win ðŸ'° @cmcdonaldracing @jamieleekah07 — (@Racing) May 24, 2025 'I thought she probably should have won her last two,' McDonald said. 'She should have won at Cranbourne and there's merit to say, she probably would have won at Caulfield. 'She gets it wrong. Sometimes in behind, she's very green. 'But today, with Jamie's beautiful hands, she travelled sweetly, the run came and she was explosive again.'
News.com.au
23-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Jye McNeil eyes hat-trick aboard speedy filly Saluted at Sandown
Jockey Jye McNeil has sights on a hat-trick aboard unbeaten filly Saluted. The Robbie Griffiths -trained daughter of I Am Immortal is a $2.80 favourite in the 1000m 2YO Handicap on Saturday at Sandown. Saluted did exactly that last month at Pakenham and The Valley, able to lead all the way to victory. 'You got to be pretty talented to do that and it's probably a step up again but she's drawn well and her pattern is pretty straightforward,' McNeil said. 'She's fast from the barriers, around (Sandown) Hillside it will be a matter of containing energy for the long straight but there's no reason to say she can't perform at the level she has been.' Saluted is one of three last start juvenile winners in a competitive contest including Frostnip ($5) and Mrs Iglesia ($17), also in hat-trick contention after provincial Cranbourne and Warrnambool wins. Miss Ole, a $3.20 second favourite, placed fifth on debut behind Mrs Iglesia but trialled impressively since. The Clinton McDonald-trained Ole Kirk filly placed second in an 800m heat behind I'mateez recently and that colt franked the form last Wednesday, with a gallant second at Sandown on debut. First-starter Espana, a $17 chance, could easily outperform market expectations. McNeil, who rode Liberami to victory last Saturday at Flemington, is equal 10th in the metropolitan premiership with 30 city winners this season including 10 for Griffiths. 'He's always been a great supporter and become good friends, I've ridden for him since I was an apprentice, some 12-13 years now, which doesn't feel that long ago now,' McNeil said. 'He's supported me my whole career and it's a stable in really good form as well, that always helps.'
