Fangirl ($5) has finally chalked up her second career Group 1 victory on Saturday with a barnstorming performance in the Winx Stakes.
The Chris Waller-trained mare was all the rage when markets opened on Wednesday afternoon, getting into as short as $4 with online bookmakers; however, with rain hitting the track on Wednesday and Thursday, punters were nervous about conditions heading into the weekend.
This meant a drifting second favourite prior to race-day, but with the drying conditions, punters were willing to back the multiple Group 1 performer.
It paid the ultimate dividends as Fangirl produced an explosive turn-of-foot under James McDonald to career away with prize, heading past stablemate Princess Grace ($21) who was bold on the wrong part of the track.
Zaaki ($4) and Jamie Kah weren’t far away finishing in third position, while the likes of Hinged ($14), Think It Over ($14), King Colorado ($10) and Osipenko ($21) all finished off their races respectably with bigger targets in the spring.
It was Fangirl, however, who found the winner’s enclosure for the first time since March of 2022, taking out the Vinery Stakes as a three-year-old.
2023 Group 1 Winx Stakes Replay – Fangirl
Chris Waller was delighted with the win and exclaimed as much in the post-race assessment, chalking up his 150th Group 1 as a trainer, and his 50th since the retirement of the mighty-mare Winx.
“She’s got her day in the sun again today and it was a fitting result,” said Waller.
“150 Group 1’s.
“She (Winx) changed my life and it was good for racing. We’ve just got an amazing team that keep producing for the horses and one Group 1 you never forget, but to win 150 I thank my team.
“She just took us to a level we weren’t used to and I wouldn’t say we enjoyed it, but it just took over your life.”
James McDonald was the last jockey to win on Fangirl and was ecstatic she was finally rewarded for her consistency.
“She dug deep today, she deserved that,” said McDonald.
“Now the big boy (Anamoe) is out of the way, she’s a five-year-old, she’s fully furnished. It’s fantastic for the (owners) Inghams and it’s great to get a Group 1 on her.
“She’s such a high-class mare and she’s been working extremely well.
“Obviously the second horse (Princess Grace) darted up there as well and she’s a high-class mare (too). She’s been racing against the best horses for a very long time and she deserved it.”
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