Crossword Genius

Candidates for the vice-presidency, perhaps, trained stunning mare (7,5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

running mates

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'candidates' is the definition.
(running mate is a kind of candidate)

'trained stunning mare' is the wordplay.
'trained' is an anagram indicator (to train can mean to grow something into a shape).
'stunning'+'mare'='stunningmare'
'stunningmare' is an anagram of 'RUNNING MATES'.

'for the vice-presidency perhaps' is the link.
This may not be correct. Some or all of it may be part of another bit of the clue.

Can you help me to learn more?

I've seen this clue in The Irish Times.
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