Chris Waller may have already cemented his place in Australian racing folklore through his association with Winx, but the reigning champion trainer once again etched his name into the history books when he racked up his 150th group 1 success Aug. 19.
Fittingly, this new milestone for Waller came in a race now bearing the name of the great mare, as Fangirl bounced right back to the kind of form that saw her win the 2022 Vinery Stud Stakes (G1), coming out on top in a thrilling finish to take the Winx Stakes (G1) at Randwick, with Waller saddling up four of the first five home.
Making her first start of the campaign, having last been seen finishing seventh in the Doncaster Mile (G1) April 1, the 5-year-old mare swooped home on the outside of the 16-runner field to grab long-time leader and stablemate Princess Grace on the line, to score by a head.
Four-time elite-level winner Zaaki, who looked to tire in the closing stages on his seasonal debut, was the only horse to prevent Waller bringing up a 1-2-3-4 as he stuck on for third, beaten just under half-a-length by the winner, while Waller inmates Hinged, beaten a length, and Osipenko, a further head behind Hinged, grabbed fourth and fifth respectively.
As it looked on paper, it proved a competitive race, with just over seven lengths separating the whole field.
"She's got her day in the sun again today and it was a fitting result," Waller said.
"When Zaaki hit the front at the 300-meter mark I thought he was home, he had good dash. I spoke to Annabel before the race and she said 'he's very well' but she's only given him one trial so I think he might've just blown up a bit.
"But he's a great horse and to finally peg him back I think added credit to her win."
Ridden by James McDonald for owners Ingham Racing, who also bred the mare, Fangirl had finished behind the now Darley stallion Anamoe on five previous occasions, including when runner-up in both the Chipping Norton Stakes (G1) and George Ryder Stakes (G1) last campaign.
"She dug deep today, she deserved that," McDonald said. "Now the big boy (Anamoe) is out of the way, she's a 5-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."
The Rosehill-based trainer also spoke briefly about his now-retired superstar mare Winx, who provided him with his century of major victories with her farewell win in the 2019 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1).
"She (Winx) changed my life and it was good for racing. We've just got an amazing team that keep producing for the horses.
"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."
Fangirl is the best of four winners from six to race out of the Encosta De Lago mare Little Surfer Girl.
Like her Fangirl, Little Surfer Girl won the Reginald Allen Quality Handicap in addition to the ATC Angst Quality Handicap and Civic Stakes.
Bob Ingham purchased Little Surfer Girl for AUD$1.5 million from the Coolmore Stud draft at the 2008 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. The mare was the lone stakes winner out of the multiple group 1 winner Special Harmony.
