Chris Waller had reason to smile after Fangirl ($2.05 fav) narrowly denied stablemate Lindermann in the $1 million 7 Stakes (1600m) at Randwick.
“I actually thought Lindermann had won but when it’s the stablemate fighting out the photo finish you’re not too concerned,” Waller said. “Great result.”
It was a welcome return to form for Fangirl, who rebounded from a below-par effort in the Memsie Stakes and repeated her win in the same race last year. Waller said the mare thrives at Randwick, where nine of her 12 career victories have come.
“She has come back well and she loves Randwick and loves the mile,” he said. Fangirl will next head to the King Charles III Stakes (1600m) on October 18.
James McDonald hailed Fangirl as “a line chaser,” while Nash Rawiller praised Lindermann’s tenacity. Ceolwulf ($4) finished two lengths away in third.
The result capped a day of tight finishes for Waller, whose Birdman earlier took out the Kingston Town Stakes by a nose.