Raging favourite FANGIRL aims for back-to-back wins in Saturday’s $1 million Group 1 Verry Elleegant Stakes over the mile at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
The Chris Waller-trained five-year-old mare resumed with a bang in the Group 2 Apollo mid-last month, prompting winning jockey James McDonald to declare it will take a mighty horse to get the better of her this Autumn Carnival.
WHAT A QUEEN!💗
Fangirl has returned in dominant style in the Group 2 Apollo Stakes under @mcacajamez for @cwallerracing. pic.twitter.com/lAR3bHMbpH
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) February 17, 2024
FANGIRL made it a one-act affair on that occasion, securing the 1400m victory Winx-like as she got back and let rip over concluding stages to win comfortably by close to 2.5 lengths.
Instilled as the odds-on favourite, FANGIRL faces nine rivals in Saturday’s Group 1, with only JUST FINE and THINK IT OVER at single-figure odds.
Learning to fly set for take of in Surround Stakes
Boom filly LEARNING TO FLY is set to chase Group 1 glory in Saturday’s $750,000 Surround Stakes over 1400m at Royal Randwick.
LEARNING TO FLY won her first three career starts impressively last year before encountering setbacks in the G1 Golden Slipper, where she lost the rider as the favourite. The Annabel Neahsam-trained daughter of Justify returned from a pastern injury a fortnight ago in the Group 2 Lightfingers.
She looked like the winner at the top of the straight, thanks to a terrific ride from Chad Schofield from barrier 11. However, she was eventually nabbed on the line by Kimochi. Nevertheless, Neasham couldn’t have been happier, given that LEARNING TO FLY had been off the scene for 12 months.
Schofield will have an easier barrier draw to navigate from on Saturday, starting from barrier six as the filly rises in trip.
