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Source: TTR Australia & NZ by Kit Gow
Jockey James McDonald strung together a back-to-back Group 1 double with Chris Waller on Saturday, backing up Via Sistina’s emphatic Queen Elizabeth win with a different queen a race later, taking out the G1 Queen Of The Turf Stakes with Fangirl (Sebring). The Ingham Racing-owned 6-year-old mare had her autumn path diverge from following Via Sistina at her last start, and it paid off to not be in Yulong’s great mare’s shadow at Randwick this weekend.
Connections’ – and punters who backed her into $1.60 favouritism – hearts would have been in their mouths as Fangirl rounded the home turn in the 1600-metre contest last in the field, but McDonald was able to thread a path through and pounce on Atishu (NZ) (Savabeel), muscling past her to emerge victorious by 0.84l, with last-start G1 Doncaster Handicap winner Stefi Magnetica (All Too Hard) lifting off the canvas late to split them.
“It’s an amazing team of owners, that’s a huge thing in itself,” Waller said. “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.”
“She won her first race in Goulburn during COVID, if I remember. She’s come a long way. Each preparation, she just stands up and she’s counted.”
“We took a step back today from the Queen Elizabeth, but she’ll get her time in another 2000-metre race, I promise you that.”
“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.”
“She’s a great mare, love her to bits,” said McDonald, who rode her “like she was a 10 to one chance” in the race.
Chalking up her 11th career win, Fangirl’s earnings soar over the $10 million mark including bonuses.