Chris Waller has an embarrassment of riches in the 3yo filly ranks and it was no surprise to see his Sebring filly Fangirl and the much-vaunted Extreme Choice filly Espiona fighting out the finish of the Group II Light Fingers Stakes.
Gotcha - Fangirl edges Espiona (image Steve Hart)
Both fillies ended their spring preparations on a high note.
The Ingham family’s Fangirl reeled of three consecutive wins culminating with a three length romp in the Group III Carbine Club Stakes.
But it was Espiona that garnered all the headlines with her jaw-dropping six and a half length demolition in the Listed Desirable Stakes at Flemington.
Espiona went off an odds-on favourite in the Light Fingers, but she went down fighting when she could not hold off Fangirl who edged her stablemate by a long-head.
The top-class Headwater filly Jamaea was three-quarter of a length back in third ahead of the Listed Atlantic Jewel stakes winner Zouzarella in fourth.
"She is a talented filly and we saw what she did down at Flemington on Derby Day, which is never easy for a filly to beat those boys and she did that easily. She won with a bit of class today too,” Waller said.
“I haven’t watched the replay yet, but I don’t think Hugh (Bowman) got too urgent with her, it was a bit of hands and heels and away she went.
“It will be interesting to see what comes from the race and how much they both improve, and obviously others in the race as well. I think she has got a bright future and no disgrace Espiona.
“I don’t think there is any diverting (from the surround Stakes), which is great. We saw some good prizemoney boosts and some great initiatives again through the week and I think what people really want to see is the best horses racing. Get the best ones racing on the same da. It’s a big plus and in two weeks time it will be on in the Surround Stakes.”
Fangirl is the best of four winners from six to race out of the Encosta de Lago mare Little Surfer Girl. Like her daughter, Little Surfer Girl won the Listed Reginald Allen Quality Handicap in addition to the Listed ATC Angst Quality Handicap and Listed Civic Stakes.
Another one for Hughie (image Steve Hart)
Bob Ingham purchased Little Surfer Girl for $1,500,000 from the Coolmore Stud draft at the 2008 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
She was the lone stakes-winner for the VRC Oaks, MRC One Thousand Guineas and STC Arrowfield Stud Stakes winner Special Harmony (Spinning World).
Little Surfer Girl has a yearling colt by Pariah. After missing in 2020 she was covered by Wootton Bassett (GB) last spring.
