Chris Waller‘s champion mare Fangirl cemented her dominance with a commanding victory in the 2024 Apollo Stakes, leaving rivals in her dust at Sydney’s Randwick Racecourse.
Fangirl wins the 2024 Apollo Stakes first-up ahead of the Group 1 autumn majors. Photo: Steve Hart.
The multiple Group 1 winner showcased her brilliance, easily conquering the field in a scintillating performance fresh off her latest break.
This dominant win marks Waller’s sixth Apollo Stakes victory, rekindling memories of his 2019 triumph with the legendary Winx.
After finishing third in last year’s race, Fangirl returned with a vengeance, delivering one of her most polished performances yet.
Following a fourth-place finish in the Champions Mile last spring, Fangirl relished her return to Sydney, replicating her dominant display in the inaugural King Charles III Stakes last year.
“She’s come back very well, we won’t get too far ahead of ourselves. It’s good to see a few people actually appreciating who she is. That’s a good little feeling when they come back like that and they get appreciated by the crowd,” Waller told the media.
“The last 12 months she’s come back better. What we saw in the King Charles was pretty special and she’s the real deal and obviously come back very well.”
With masterful jockey James McDonald at the helm, Fangirl patiently waited before unleashing her power in the final stages, swallowing the leading pack and securing a clear 2.39 length victory.
“She’s come back in beautiful order and dare I say it, it will take a good one to beat her this prep,” McDonald said of Fangirl .
Waller further bolstered his success with a quinella finish, as his talented three-year-old Militarize secured a commendable second place.
Third place went to the ever-consistent Think It Over, trained by Kerry Parker.
This victory sets the stage for an exciting season for Fangirl, with all eyes now on her quest for a historic double.
She leads the all-in betting for the $1 million Verry Elleegant Stakes (formerly the Chipping Norton Stakes), scheduled for March 2nd at Randwick.
Anamoe, in 2023, was the last horse to achieve this feat before the Group 1 race was renamed in honour of Waller’s champion mare, Verry Elleegant.
With odds already heavily favouring her at $1.90 through Ladbrokes, Fangirl seems poised to continue her reign and cement her legacy as one of the greatest Australian racehorses.
2024 Apollo Stakes Results
| Finish | No. | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Bar. | Weight | Penalty | Starting Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 8 | FANGIRL | Chris Waller | James McDonald | 7 | 57kg | $2.10F | |||
| 2 | 10 | MILITARIZE (NZ) | Chris Waller | Kerrin McEvoy | 2.39L | 4 | 55.5kg | $6.50 | ||
| 3 | 1 | THINK IT OVER | Kerry Parker | Nash Rawiller | 2.8L | 6 | 59kg | $7.50 | ||
| 4 | 6 | NAVAJO PEAK | David Payne | Jason Collett | 3.03L | 9 | 59kg | $41 | ||
| 5 | 4 | BUCKAROO (GB) | Chris Waller | Tommy Berry | 3.23L | 5 | 59kg | $17 | ||
| 6 | 7 | LINDERMANN | Chris Waller | Tim Clark | 3.44L | 3 | 59kg | $7 | ||
| 7 | 3 | ARAPAHO (FR) | Bjorn Baker | Joshua Parr | 3.75L | 2 | 59kg | $101 | ||
| 8 | 5 | ATTRACTABLE | Sara Ryan | Regan Bayliss | 3.91L | 1 | 59kg | $9 | ||
| 9 | 2 | CASCADIAN (GB) | James Cummings | Zac Lloyd (a) | 5.58L | 8 | 59kg | $16 | ||
| 9 | SEMANA | Ciaron Maher | Dylan Gibbons (a) | 0 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
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