Chris Waller‘s class mare Fangirl relished the retirement of last year’s champ Anamoe improving on her second last spring to hand her trainer his 150th career Group 1 success in Saturday’s $1 million Winx Stakes (1400m).

2023 Winx Stakes winner Fangirl improved on her second in the race last year to kick off her spring with a Group 1 win. Photo: Steve Hart.

Waller enjoyed his impressive seventh win in the race formerly known as the Warwick Stakes and renamed in honour of his classy mare Winx who herself won this event three times between 2016 and 2018.

“She’s got her day in the sun again today, and it was a fitting result. 150 Group 1’s,” Waller told Sky Thoroughbred Central.

Now 80-time Group 1 winning hoop James McDonald continued his dominance with a third Winx Stakes victory at Royal Randwick, giving Waller’s Sebring mare Fangirl ($5) a perfectly-timed ride down the outside on the Soft (6) track first-up.

Fangirl settled back early as the stable’s Rosehill Guineas winner Lindermann led the Winx Stakes field around before making her move on the straight.

She wound up out wide and finished strongly savaging the line and denying Waller’s American import, recent Hawkesbury Crown winning mare Princess Grace ($21), who finished a brave second right on the inside rail.

“She dug deep today, she deserved that. Now the big boy (Anamoe) is out of the way, she’s a five-year-old, she’s fully furnished,” McDonald said of Fangirl.

“It’s fantastic for the (owners) Inghams and it’s great to get a Group 1 on her.

“She’s such a high-class mare and she’s been working extremely well. Obviously the second horse (Princess Grace) darted up there as well and she’s a high-class mare (too).

“She’s been racing against the best horses for a very long time and she deserved it.”

Annabel Neasham’s evergreen veteran Zaaki ($4.80F) was typically strong running third as the beaten top elect, while Waller also rounded out the First Four with Hinged ($12) good in fourth.

“When Zaaki hit the front at the 300m I thought he was home, he had good dash,” Waller admitted post-win.

“I spoke to Annabel (Neahsam – Zaaki’s trainer) before the race she said ‘he’s very well’ but she’s only given him one trial so I think he might’ve just blown up a bit.

“But he’s a great horse and to finally peg him back I think added credit to her win.”

2023 Winx Stakes Results & Finishing Order 

Table Credit: Racing Australia.