Trainer Chris Waller is keen to see an improved performance from Fangirl and Lindermann when they contest the Group 2 Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) at Randwick this Saturday.
Both horses finished outside the placings in the Winx Stakes behind their stablemate Autumn Glow, coming home 10th and 9th respectively. While Waller acknowledged the strong pace of that race as a factor for their performances, he conceded that the end of the road might be approaching for the eight-year-old mare, Fangirl.
Fangirl, a four-time Group One victor, experienced her widest margin of defeat when she was beaten 7.4 lengths in the Winx Stakes.
“Fangirl, she’ll probably race and it’ll be a deciding run for her,” Waller stated.
“It was a strong run race and the backmarkers struggled to get into it.
“It’s a bit of a turning point for her, she owes us nothing, if she wants to race, she’ll race on but if she wants to be a mum then she’ll go be a mum.”
Lindermann, the winner of last year’s Chelmsford Stakes, managed to recover from his 10th place in the Winx Stakes, where he trailed Via Sistina, and Waller anticipates a significant uplift in his form.
“Lindermann was just at his top throughout, Hughy (Bowman) said he was just out of his comfort zone there,” Waller commented.
“I think what we found on Saturday if you weren’t rock hard fit, it was a tough race.
“And that showed the class of Autumn Glow and obviously Sheza Alibi, because it showed up Aeliana, it showed up Fangirl and it showed up Lindermann, they were a bit soft but that’s a good starting point for the preparation.”
The stablemates might be joined by Asterix, returning from a spell after winning the Group 3 Tattersall’s Cup (2400m) at Eagle Farm. Waller indicated that Asterix could be aimed at a Caulfield Cup campaign in Melbourne following his Randwick engagement.
Lindermann is currently the second favourite for the Chelmsford Stakes, trailing behind Ceolwulf. Ceolwulf, who finished fifth in the Winx Stakes, has been cleared to run after a minor issue with traces of blood in a nostril post his initial run.
Punters are weighing up the form for the Chelmsford Stakes, with many looking at the available Australian betting sites to place their wagers.
