Having eventually ended up on the right side of a gripping photo finish earlier in the day, trainer Chris Waller faced a less anxious wait when the judge was required to separate Fangirl and Lindermann in the $1 million 7 Stakes at Randwick.
Waller prepares both horses and while Fangirl ($2.05 fav) was given the decision by a nose, he would have walked away content either way.
“I actually thought Lindermann had won but when it’s the stablemate fighting out the photo finish you’re not too concerned. Great result,” Waller said.
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“It was an intriguing race. Lindermann was rolling along at pretty good sectionals and I thought, well, he’ll be vulnerable late, but he kept fighting hard.
“Full credit to Fangirl and James (McDonald). James saved some ground and it’s a pretty quick track today.”
Fangirl backed up her victory in the corresponding race 12 months ago, rebounding from a slightly below par first-up run in the Memsie Stakes (1400m) when Waller said she didn’t handle the Caulfield track.
Back at Randwick where she has now posted nine of her 12 wins she rediscovered her best form.
“We didn’t panic after her last run,” Waller said.
“Her run was fine. She just got lost at Caulfield. She has come back well and she loves Randwick and loves the mile.”
Fangirl will have her next start over her pet course and distance in the King Charles III Stakes (1600m) on October 18, a race she won in 2023 before finishing unplaced last year.
McDonald was surprised by the fight Lindermann showed at the finish but said Fangirl was a special mare.
“She’s so good, I love her dearly. She’s such a thrill to ride and every time she gives her heart out there. She’s a line chaser,” McDonald said.
Lindermann’s ($5) jockey Nash Rawiller described his charge as tenacious saying he did a superb job to push Fangirl right to the line.
“I thought Fangirl had us cold at the 100 metres but I loved the way he kept coming,” Rawiller said.
“He kept fighting all the way to the line. Very proud of him. He’s going to win a good one.”
Ceolwulf ($4) did best of the rest another two lengths away third and jockey Chad Schofield felt he had every chance.
“We had the run I wanted. Travelled well. I liked the tempo of the race. He was honest up the straight,” Schofield said.
The 7 Stakes (1600m) was the second Randwick feature involving a close photo finish with the Waller-trained Birdman taking out the Kingston Town Stakes (2000m) by a nose over the Kris Lees-trained Adelaide River.
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