The inaugural running of the Group 1 King Charles III Stakes (1600m) has been taken out by Fangirl ($5), as Chris Waller & James McDonald combined for their fourth success on the five-year-old mare.
It was a race setup by the stablemate and Group 1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) winner, Rediener (+3300) electing to head straight to the front, along with Godolphin colt Golden Mile (+2200), giving the back markers every opportunity to travel into the race strongly.
Craig Williams was smoking the pipe from the one-one position aboard Mr Brightside (-111.11) and when the race went on, you would’ve thought the two-time Group 1 Doncaster Mile (1600m) winner was going to career away with the prize.
It wasn’t to be, however, as James McDonald just sat quietly in behind the leading pair and travelled strongly before putting them away in style, with Mr Brightside and My Oberon (+3300) clearing out on the rest of the field holding the minor money spots.
It’s all about the winner today though, as Fangirl put her hand up as a live chance in this year’s Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) and Chris Waller confirmed that’s the plan for her moving forward.
“That was always the plan,” said Waller regarding a trip to Melbourne on Cox Plate Day.
“to space her runs and get her to Melbourne as well. That will be tomorrow’s decision I guess, she was pretty dominant today.”
James McDonald suggested in the washup that Fangirl is going as good as ever, and even joked that an Everest (1200m) tilt wouldn’t of been out of the question.
“She’s flying at home, I haven’t seen her go any better at home,” said McDonald.
“She’s quite funny, she’s hard to read at times because she can put in an odd gallop. Her form is great but (she) doesn’t really gallop that well.
“These two weeks have been unbelievable. She trialled with all those Everest horses and she probably could’ve almost got a slot after that trial that’s how good she was going. She’s a really good horse, under certain conditions she’s pretty hard to beat.”
Fangirl is now a +800 chance with most top online betting sites for the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) on October 28.
More horse racing news
