Racing
Fangirl stars in Queen Of The Turf win
The Chris Waller-trained Fangirl has claimed her fourth career Group 1 win with victory in the Queen Of The Turf Stakes at Randwick.
A decision to run Fangirl in the Queen Of The Turf Stakes instead of the Queen Elizabeth Stakes one the second day of The Championships has been rewarded, with the Chris Waller-trained mare claiming another Group 1 win.
Waller won Saturday's $5 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) with superstar mare Via Sistina, who notched her seventh Group 1 of the season, while 40 minutes later Fangirl was also sent out a short-priced favourite in the Queen Of The Turf (1600m) for fillies and mares and came from back in the field near the inside, with James Mcdonald aboard, to register her fourth career Group 1 win.
Fangirl had beaten Via Sistina first-up this campaign in the Group 2 Apollo Stakes before finishing second in the Verry Elleegant Stakes and George Ryder Stakes at her next two autumn starts.
The six-year-old's victory in Saturday's race over last week's Doncaster Mile winner Stefi Magnetica was Fangirl's first Group 1 win success since the King Charles III Stakes in the 2023 spring.
Waller said he was proud of the mare who has continued to perform every preparation in top company.
"Each preparation she just stands up and she's counted," Waller said.
"We took a step back today from the Queen Elizabeth but she'll get her time in another 2000-metre race, I promise her that.
"Obviously today means so much. You've got to have horses winning, and the big races especially. We would have liked to have had a crack at the Queen Elizabeth but Via Sistina was flying and I didn't want to break her heart."
McDonald, who notched his second Group 1 of the afternoon after steering Via Sistina to victory, said Fangirl was well-placed dropping back to fillies and mares grade in the Queen Of The Turf and duly delivered with a strong finishing sprint.
"She's a great mare. I love her to bits," McDonald said.
Fangirl was back second last approaching the home turn and McDonald elected to stay closer to the inside in search of a clear run from the top of the straight.
Fangirl and Atishu made their runs underneath other runners and looked set to fight out the finish before Fangirl edged clear of her stablemate while Stefi Magnetica started to charge late wider out.
Fangirl ($1.60) defeated Stefi Magnetica ($6.50) by three-quarters of a length with Atishu ($9.50) another nose away third in what was her final race start before she goes to the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale in May.
"She was brave too," Waller said of Atishu.
"It's her last run today, Atishu, and she's been an amazing horse.
"In the last three years she's won this race, got beaten a nose last year and been beaten by Fangirl and the Doncaster winner this year."
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