Fangirl Brilliant in King Charles

Mark Smith - Saturday October 14

Fangirl left Mr Brightside without an excuse when she earned a third win at the highest level when much the best in the inaugural running of the $5,000,000 Group 1 King Charles III Stakes (1600m) at Randwick.

A career best for Fangirl (image Steve Hart)

Ridden by James McDonald for Chris Waller, the 5-year-old daughter of Sebring almost arrogantly pushed out under Mr Brightside at the 200m to win by two and three-quarter lengths.   

It was the first loss in three starts in Sydney for dual Group 1 Doncaster Stakes winner Mr Brightside (Bullbars), who didn’t shirk his task to finish a head in front of  My Oberon (IRE) (Dubawi).

Advertisement

The Ingham family homebred advances her record to seven wins, four seconds, and three thirds from 21 starts, with earnings of $7,133,565.

Waller said that Fangirl is on track for the Cox Plate.

“They (the Ingham family) are racing purists, they cope with the quiet days, and they’ve been at the highest mountain. They never put any pressure on you, they just listen,” Waller said.

“That (the Cox Plate) was always the plan, to space her runs and get her to Melbourne as well. That will be tomorrow’s decision I guess, she was pretty dominant today.”

James McDonald said Fangirl has gone to a new level.

“She’s flying at home, I haven’t seen her go any better at home,” he said.

“She’s quite funny; she’s hard to read at times because she can put in an odd gallop. Her form is great, but (she) doesn’t really gallop that well. These two weeks have been unbelievable. She trialled with all those Everest horses, and she probably could’ve almost got a slot after that trial that’s how good she was going. She’s a really good horse, under certain conditions she’s pretty hard to beat.

“Even when you’re looking around, her ears are pricked; she had an evil eye on her. Her eye was just glowing, and she was just in form. She was such a happy horse around the stalls. Didn’t begin as well, but we were lucky to use a good gate, and she did the rest.”

That $5million feeling (image Steve Hart)

 Fangirl is the best of five 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.

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).

After missing in 2020, Little Surfer Girl has a yearling filly by Wootton Bassett (GB) and foaled a colt by Home Affairs on September 10. 

Widden Stud's late Sebring with Antony Thompson (image Mark Smith)

Advertisment

Race Result - King Charles III Stakes Gr1 1600m

Randwick Track: Good(3) Time: 1:33.79
1
Fangirl
- 5m Sebring (AUS) x Little Surfer Girl (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: J B Mc Donald 57
Sebring
2
2.7
Mr Brightside
- 6g Bullbars (AUS) x Lilahjay (NZ) (Tavistock (NZ))
Tnr: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes Rdr: Craig Williams 59
3
2.8
My Oberon
- 7g Dubawi (IRE) x My Titania (IRE) (Sea The Stars (IRE))
Tnr: Annabel Neasham Rdr: C Schofield 59
4
4.2
Nugget
- 7g Siyouni (FR) x Gemstone (IRE) (Galileo (IRE))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: Dylan Gibbons 59
5
4.5
Kovalica
- 4g Ocean Park (NZ) x Vitesse (NZ) (Makfi (GB))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: Tommy Berry 58.5
6
4.8
Think It Over
- 8g So You Think (NZ) x Personal Service (AUS) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: K J Parker Rdr: N Rawiller 59
7
5.2
Buckaroo
- 5h Fastnet Rock (AUS) x Roheryn (IRE) (Galileo (IRE))
Tnr: Joseph O'Brien Rdr: J Bowman 59
8
5.5
Hope In Your Heart
- 5m Dundeel (NZ) x Hayaat (AUS) (Montjeu (IRE))
Tnr: K J Parker Rdr: J R Collett 57
9
6.0
Golden Mile
- 4h Astern (AUS) x Calaverite (AUS) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: Zac Lloyd 58.5
10
6.2
Rediener
- 4g Redoute's Choice (AUS) x Wiener (AUS) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: Ms K O'Hara 58.5
11
6.2
Light Infantry Man
- 5h Fast Company (IRE) x Lights On Me (GB) (Kyllachy (GB))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: Z Purton 59
12
6.2
Zeyrek
- 7g Sea The Stars (IRE) x Zerkaza (IRE) (Dalakhani (IRE))
Tnr: M, W & J Hawkes Rdr: S Clipperton 59
13
6.3
Atishu
- 6m Savabeel (AUS) x Posy (NZ) (No Excuse Needed (GB))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: K Mc Evoy 57
14
6.4
Huetor
- 7g Archipenko (USA) x Briviesca (GB) (Peintre Celebre (USA))
Tnr: P & P Snowden Rdr: J Parr 59
More Reading...
One to Watch – Wyong
The John O’Shea and Tom Charlton stable have been running hot into spring and unleashed a talented Wootton Bassett (GB) colt at Wyong on Friday that bolted in to win by nearly five lengths.
Breeding To Win – 2025 G1 AJ Moir Stakes
The Valley blasts into spring G1 action with the running of the $750,000 AJ Moir Stakes WFA at 1000m, and it's always an exciting spectacle when a full field of flyers are going full bore on the turning track!
Explosive Return for the Darling of Sydney Racing - Fangirl
The $300,000 Group II ATC Apollo Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on Saturday is the traditional starting point for elite WFA horses seeking autumn glory in Sydney and the first three over the line showed cream does indeed rise to the top with Fangirl breathtakingly good in beating her stable-mate Militarize with Think It Over a gallant third.
Ole Kirk share headlines strong September (Early) Online Sale
A share in - and mares in foal to - reigning Champion First Season Sire Ole Kirk are joined by a bevy of quality racing and breeding stock in the Inglis Digital September (Early) Online Sale, which is now open for bidding.
Fangirl Leads Waller Trifecta in G2 Apollo Stakes
The $300,000 Group II ATC Apollo Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on Saturday is the traditional starting point for elite WFA horses seeking autumn glory in Sydney and the first three over the line are all trained by Chris Waller with the mighty Fangirl leading the way.
Justify Mare Wins $250,000 Wyong Mona Lisa Stakes
A big field of 14 mares went around in the $250,000 Listed Mona Lisa Stakes (1350m) at Wyong on Friday and the race produced a thrilling finish with less than two lengths separating  the first eight over the line with Just Feelin’ Lucky taking the prize.
Kiwi Melbourne Cup Contender Kicks off at The Valley
Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) hopeful Mark Twain has landed in Melbourne and will commence his path towards the iconic feature at The Valley on Saturday.
Mitchell McKenzie Colts Showcase
All eyes will be on the $175,000 Listed MVRC Mitchell McKenzie Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on Saturday with an intriguing field of nine colts and geldings all vying for that all important first stakes win.
Best On Breeding
Peter Walsh is living the dream as the owner-breeder of Amelia's Jewel and, under different circumstances, could be campaigning a mare that will stake her claim for champion miler in Saturday's $3,000,000 Kennedy Champions Mile at Flemington.
Fangirl Back to Best in $1million 7Sports Stakes
After a close and unlucky first up defeat last month when third in the Group I ATC Winx Stakes, six year-old Sebring mare Fangirl was back on her pedestal as the best mare in Sydney when scoring a soft last to first victory in the $1million ATC 7+Sports Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday.