A homebred for the Ingham family, foaled and raised at Coolmore, six year-old Sebring mare Fangirl has been in top form during the autumn and finished her carnival on a high with a dominant win in the $1million ATC Queen of the Turf Stakes (1600m) over an outstanding field of mares.
Trained by Chris Waller and ridden by James McDonald, Fangirl was a dual acceptor on Saturday as she was originally in the mix for the Queen Elizabeth Stakes as well, but connections elected to step left leaving that target race for her stablemate Via Sistina (IRE) and the result was win win for the stable!
Fangirl settled back in the field near the fence and while sometimes she has had to do a power of work to get around her rivals to challenge, this time she was able to sneak through the field and pounce on the lead at the furlong.
Fangirl dashed quickly to put paid to her stablemate Atishu with last week’s Doncaster Mile winner Stefi Magnetica charging late for second beaten a length.
"We took a step back today from the Queen Elizabeth, but she'll get her time in another 2000m race, I promise you that," Chri Waller said.
"Obviously, today means so much.
"We'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.
"There's so many great stories with any winner on the racetrack, but the Group 1s on big days like today, it really is special. So I don't know where to start.
"Fangirl won her first race in Goulburn during Covid, if I remember and she's come a long way. Each preparation, she just stands up and she's counted."
Fangirl was foaled and raised at Coolmore for the Ingham family before being broken in and educated at their Jerry’s Plains headquarters. She has the overall record of 11 wins and 12 placings from 33 starts with prizemoney topping $10million.
She is the best of five winners from stakes-winning Encosta de Lago mare Little Surfer Girl, a daughter of triple Group I winner Special Harmony.
Little Surfer Girl has a two year-old filly by Wootton Bassett (GB) called Bella Wahine that is in training with Chris Waller and a yearling colt and weanling filly by Home Affairs to follow.
She was covered last spring by Wootton Bassett, but unfortunately missed.
A four time Group I winner, Fangirl is the greatest of all time for Widden Stud's much missed Golden Slipper winning sire Sebring.
