The Ingham family were always going to play a big hand in the $300,000 Group II ATC Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday with their two homebred superstars Fangirl and Lindermann engaged.
As an eight year-old mare by Sebring, Fangirl is closer to the end of her career than the beginning, while seven year-old Lonhro gelding Lindermann was the punters elect and went to the post as favourite with Nash Rawiller to ride.
The Chris Waller trained duo presented in top order, not once but twice in the mounting yard as wild weather sent the field back to the tie up stalls after their initial parade as track staff worked to fix the running rail that had been sent flying in the wind.
Lindermann led throughout as he does when at the top of his game and proved impossible to catch, surging away at the finish to win by nearly two lengths over Ceolwulf with Fangirl a gallant third.
"That was Lindermann at his best, Nash at this best,'' Waller said.
"He came through that first-up run which had a frantic pace and bounced back today.
"He has his confidence back now.''
Nash Rawiller has a great partnership with Lindermann.
"We were going hard enough early and you don't have to be in a hurry to get over with this horse,'' said Rawiller after his fifth win in the Chelmsford Stakes.
"Once Lindermann got into that rhythm, he is tough to run down. He is a beauty.
"I trialled him and was so happy with him then his first-up he was too bad to be true but to Hugh Bowman's credit, he didn't knock the horse around when he was beaten and that was why he was able to bounce back today.
"The last 12 months have been his best, he is going so well. There is some talk he might go to the Group 1 Underwood Stakes next – he would be hard to beat around Caulfield.''
While Linderman has more to come, the curtain may well come down for Fangirl on a glittering career that has seen her win over $11million in prizemoney.
"Fangirl was brave again but I would say that will be her last run,'' Waller said. "I will have a talk with the Ingham family on Monday.
"She was gallant but nowhere near her best. She would have got them a year ago, even a few months ago.
"She has been an awesome horse for Sydney to follow but I would say she has run her last race. She has been so good for so long.''
A homebred for the Debbie Kepitis’s Woppitt Bloodstock that was foaled and raised at Coolmore, Lindermann has the overall record of nine wins and 13 placings from 41 starts with prizemoney of $5.3million.
Lindermann is the best of four winners from five foals to race from stakes-placed Stratum mare Self Esteem, who comes from the family of Group I stars Assertive Lad, Assertive Las and Reset.
Self Esteem has an unnamed two year-old filly by Pierro that is a three-quarter sister to Lindermann and has foaled this spring producing a filly by St Mark’s Basilica (Fr).
