The punters are coming for Chris Waller‘s autumn bridesmaid, Fangirl, to get back to Group 1 winning form when she kicks off her spring campaign in the $1 million Winx Stakes 2023 this weekend in Sydney.

The Chris Waller-trained Fangirl (pink silks) is out to go one better than her second in last year’s race when she kicks off in Saturday’s 2023 Winx Stakes at Randwick. Photo: Steve Hart.

Royal Randwick hosts the season’s opening elite level with a quality field of Group 1 horses doing battle in this year’s Winx Stakes field over the 1400m on Saturday.

Twelve months ago Waller’s classy daughter of Sebring ran second to Godolphin star Anamoe in the Winx.

She would go on to meet the now retired galloper a host more times over the following months including her back-to-back Group 1 seconds behind him in the Chipping Norton and George Ryder in the autumn.

With Anamoe now beginning his new career as a very value stallion, this spring looks Fangirl’s time to shine starting with the Winx on the weekend.

Waller saddles-up a bumper nine in the event with Fangirl heading Winx Stakes betting at Ladbrokes at $4.40 and firming.

The mare lines-up from gate 11 with last year’s winning hoop James McDonald in the saddle.

At her latest start Fangirl finished seventh on a mud track here behind Mr Brightside in April’s Doncaster Mile.

Her first-up record and firmer track on Saturday suggest she can improve and continue Waller’s outstanding run in the event formerly known as the Warwick Stakes.

Waller has prepared six of the past eight winners including the race’s now namesake Winx on three occasions (2016-18).

Along with Fangirl his other standout hopefuls in 2023 to secure a seventh trophy include last start Group 3 Frank Packer Plate winner Osipenko and Rosehill Guineas winner Lindermann with the two four-year-olds drawn wide out in gates 17 and 18 respectively.

The Waller contingent also includes the spring’s Moonee Valley Cup winner Francesco Guardi ($61), international import Going Global ($81), the rails-drawn Hawkesbury Crown winning mare Princess Grace ($13), Group 1 winning mare Hinged ($15), and the former David Payne-trained Montefilia ($23). 

Also saddling-up a couple of big chances is Annabel Neasham who has accepted for her dual Mackinnon Stakes champion Zaaki ($4.60) making his nine-year-old debut and Mo’unga ($11) who won this race back in 2021.

Mo’unga was last seen running a brave second to Dubai Honour in the autumn’s Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) and never runs a bad race.

Another horse whose final start was in a Queen Elizabeth Stakes field is the returning Joe Pride-trained Think It Over ($10).

He hasn’t raced since winning the 2022 Queen Elizabeth in a boil-over when defeating Zaaki on a mud track.

After a lengthy let-off plenty of eyes will be focused on the eight-year-old son of So You Think who has a great first-up strike-rate and good form at this track and trip.

Trainer James Cummings meanwhile chases back-to-back wins with a former stablemate of Anamoe, Golden Mile, racing second-up and looking to atone after nearly going down in the Group 2 Missile Stakes when the ill-fated Big Parade went amiss a fortnight back.

The 2023 Winx Stakes is scheduled to run as Randwick Race 8 at 3:45pm (AEST) as part of Sydney’s 10-race Saturday card.

2023 Winx Stakes Field & Barriers

Table Credit: Racing Australia.