The punters have spoken, placing Fangirl firmly at the forefront of the Apollo Stakes 2024 at Randwick this Saturday.
Multiple Group 1 winning mare Fangirl is the one to beat first-up in the 2024 Apollo Stakes field at Randwick this weekend. Photo: Steve Hart.
The five-year-old Sebring mare, trained by the masterful Chris Waller, enters the Group 2 $300,000 Apollo Stakes (1400m) race as the short-priced favourite at $2.25 and firming through Ladbrokes.
Fresh off a well-deserved break, Fangirl seeks to build upon her promising record last season, which included a first-up victory in the prestigious Group 1 Winx Stakes at this very track and trip.
Her highlight remains her dominant win in the inaugural Group 1 King Charles III Stakes, where she effortlessly outdistanced Mr Brightside by nearly three lengths.
Despite falling short in her last two starts (7th in the Cox Plate, 4th in the Champions Mile), Fangirl returns to Sydney in a field considered more manageable.
With champion jockey James McDonald in the saddle, she presents a compelling case for her first win of the season.
However, the challenge comes not only from seasoned rivals, but also from within Waller’s own stable.
Militarize, the young Dundeel colt, aims to break a long-standing record by becoming the first three-year-old Apollo Stakes champion since 2002.
Despite the historical odds stacked against him, Militarize boasts an impressive resume, including two wins at the distance and a formidable Randwick record featuring two Group 1 victories as a juvenile.
Waller further strengthens his presence with two more contenders: the imported Buckaroo, who has shown promise in recent trials, and former Rosehill Guineas winner Lindermann, seeking a return to his peak form.
Beyond the Waller stable, Think It Over emerges as a key contender.
The seasoned eight-year-old, known for his strong first-up performances, looks to add another victory to his $7.84 million bankroll.
With three Group 2 features scheduled for the 10-race Randwick card, the Apollo Stakes promises an exciting start to the autumn racing season.
Can Fangirl live up to expectations and secure victory, or will another horse claim the prestigious prize?
All eyes will be on Randwick Race 7 at 4:00pm (AEDT) on Saturday to find out.
2024 Apollo Stakes Field & Barriers
| No | Last 10 | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight | Probable Weight | Penalty | Hcp Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4241x6316x | THINK IT OVER | Kerry Parker | Nash Rawiller | 7 | 59kg | 120 | ||
| 2 | 54x5213x7x | CASCADIAN (GB) | James Cummings | Zac Lloyd (a) | 9 | 59kg | 114 | ||
| 3 | 0x77114x0x | ARAPAHO (FR) | Bjorn Baker | Joshua Parr | 3 | 59kg | 112 | ||
| 4 | 6x143x275x | BUCKAROO (GB) | Chris Waller | Tommy Berry | 6 | 59kg | 107 | ||
| 5 | 61141x412x | ATTRACTABLE | Sara Ryan | Regan Bayliss | 1 | 59kg | 105 | ||
| 6 | 1222x0180x | NAVAJO PEAK | David Payne | Jason Collett | 10 | 59kg | 103 | ||
| 7 | 1210x0488x | LINDERMANN | Chris Waller | Tim Clark | 4 | 59kg | 102 | ||
| 8 | 227x13174x | FANGIRL | Chris Waller | James McDonald | 8 | 57kg | 117 | ||
| 10 | 3011x5158x | MILITARIZE (NZ) | Chris Waller | Kerrin McEvoy | 5 | 55.5kg | 107 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
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