Clinton McDonald-trained Miss Ole wins at Sandown Hillside

The Australian

24-05-2025

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.
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'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.'