Sydney’s premier trainer Chris Waller is aiming for his fourth victory in the Queen Of The Turf Stakes this Saturday, saddling up the strong market elect Fangirl in the Group 1 mile feature.

Chris Waller’s multiple Group 1 winning mare Fangirl is top elect to add to her elite level tally in Saturday’s 2025 Queen Of The Turf Stakes. Photo: Steve Hart.

Waller has an impressive recent record in the race, having trained the winners for the past two years with Atishu (2023) and Zougotcha (2024).

“Fangirl is the mare to beat in Saturday’s 2025 Queen Of The Turf Stakes at Randwick,” a leading form analyst declared.

The Championships Day 2 at Randwick will showcase four elite Group 1 contests, including the $1 million Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1600m) for fillies and mares.

Waller’s leading contender this year is the consistent six-year-old Sebring mare Fangirl, who is fourth-up and appears to be at peak fitness.

She is the $2.25 favourite with Ladbrokes and will start from barrier six under the guidance of James McDonald.

While also accepted for the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m), where stablemate Via Sistina is the short-priced favourite, the mile contest appears her primary target.

Fangirl’s lead-up form has been typically strong, with the three-time Group 1 winner recording consecutive second place finishes behind Via Sistina in the Verry Elleegant Stakes and Gringotts in the George Ryder Stakes.

The form from both those races has proven reliable, notably with Stefi Magnetica, who finished sixth in the George Ryder before winning last weekend’s Group 1 Doncaster Mile at Randwick.

Waller’s formidable stable also presents another leading contender in the betting, with the Group 1-winning mare Atishu priced at $6.

The seven-year-old daughter of Savabeel, who won this very race two years ago, will start from barrier two with Nash Rawiller aboard.

While Atishu hasn’t secured a win since her victory in the Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes over this distance at Flemington during the Melbourne Cup Carnival last spring, her performances this preparation have been steadily improving.

She caught the eye last start when finishing fourth, three lengths behind Light Infantry Man, in the Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington on March 29th.

Atishu now returns to Sydney and drops back in distance to face her own sex, aiming to improve on her second-place finish in last year’s Queen Of The Turf Stakes, a placing she achieved after finishing third in the Australian Cup.

Adding significant intrigue to the race is the surprise final acceptor, Stefi Magnetica, also priced at $6 for trainer Bjorn Baker.

The in-form four-year-old daughter of All Too Hard is backing up quickly after her impressive Group 1 Doncaster Mile victory over this track and distance just last Saturday.

Having previously won the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap in Brisbane last winter, the team is keen to capitalise on her current form.

She carried 54.5kg to victory in the Doncaster, narrowly defeating Royal Patronage, and will now step up to 57kg in this contest.

Lazzura, who has drawn wide in barrier 13, is the only other runner currently listed at single-figure odds for the Queen Of The Turf Stakes.

This promising Snitzel filly, also trained by Waller, is aiming to become the first three-year-old to win the race since Alizee in 2018.

She recorded a dominant victory against the colts and geldings two starts back in the Group 2 Phar Lap Stakes at Rosehill before a brave second-place finish when narrowly defeated on heavy ground in the rescheduled Group 2 Emancipation Stakes on April 1st.

Having previously finished third in the Group 1 Surround Stakes against her own age group, she is considered up to this level and capable of a strong performance if she can overcome the wide draw.

Representing potential value in the Queen Of The Turf Stakes field are Danny O’Brien‘s runaway Group 2 Sunline Stakes winner Grinzinger Belle ($15) and Joe Pride‘s last-start Emancipation Stakes victor Lekvarte ($26).

Both mares enter the race off impressive wins.

The TAB Queen Of The Turf Stakes is scheduled as Randwick Race 9 at 4:35pm (AEST), serving as the penultimate event on Saturday’s exciting card.

2025 Queen Of The Turf Stakes Field & Barriers

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

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