Chris Waller’s 153rd Group 1 win has been a special one with Fangirl carrying the Ingham family’s famous cerise silks to a commanding victory over top miler Mr Brightside in the $5 million King Charles III Stakes at Randwick.
The Ingham family has been a constant on Waller’s training journey, backing the champion horseman before he had won his first major and he continues to repay their faith.
Waller recalled the moment in England earlier this year when he was on his way to the Racing NSW announcement about the King Charles III with John Ingham and decided it would be an ideal target for Fangirl.
“I was driving to the event in London where Racing NSW was going to announce the King Charles and I had John Ingham, a part-owner of Fangirl, in the car,” Waller said.
“I told him, ‘I think we can win this race with the mare’.
“It is such a thrill for me personally to train the winner for the Ingham family.
“(Fangirl’s dam) Little Surfer Girl was among the first batch of horses I was given to train by Mr (Bob) Ingham.”She has kept improving, and that is why I didn’t panic last preparation because I could still see she had maturing and developing to do.”
A first-up winner of the Winx Stakes, Fangirl got back from a wide draw in the 7 Stakes (1600m) and caught the eye late for this behind Think It Over.
From a low barrier on Saturday, James Mcdonald was able to camp her better than midfield and Fangirl ($5.50) lengthened quickly to burst clear and defeat a gallant Mr Brightside ($1.95 bookie fav) by 2-3/4 lengths with My Oberon ($31) another head away third.
Waller said he would weigh up whether to head to the Cox Plate (2040m) with Fangirl, as he had a query on her at a middle-distance journey.
“My heart tells me the Cox Plate, but I have to check what I think of the distance,” he said.
McDonald described Fangirl as a happy horse who was at the peak of her powers.
“Even when you’re looking around, her ears are pricked, she had an evil eye on her,” McDonald said.
“She didn’t begin as well, but we were lucky to use a good gate (barrier two) and she did the rest.
“That’s the one I wanted to win, I wanted the King’s crown.”
Craig Williams said Mr Brightside was under pressure a long way from home and it was testament to the horse’s tenacity that he lifted to run second.
“At the top of the turn I wasn’t going well. It just shows you what type of horse he is,” Williams said.
“If he pulls up well, he’ll obviously go to the Cox Plate. The way he went today, he will be looking forward to the extra distance.”
Nugget ran a huge race for fourth but apprentice Dylan Gibbons said it wasn’t good enough for family bragging rights after his father, jockey Andrew Gibbons, partnered him to third in the Doncaster Mile last autumn.
“Ran his absolute heart out, I’d love to ride a hundred horses like him,” Gibbons said.
“But I must mention, dad ran third on him and I’ve run fourth. I will hear about this later.”
Zaaki was a race day scratching from the King Charles III on veterinary advice and trainer Annabel Neasham said he would now head straight to the Cox Plate 2023.