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Trainer Chris Waller set to unleash Group 1 stars Fangirl, Riff Rocket and Via Sistina in Group 1 Winx Stakes

He’s won the race seven times already and premier trainer Chris Waller looks poised to do it again in the first Group 1 of the season. Plus, get Mitch Cohen’s horses to follow and forgive from Rosehill on Saturday.

Mitch Cohen
5 min read
August 19, 2024 - 7:00AM
Fangirl will attempt to defend her Winx Stakes crown at Royal Randwick.
Fangirl will attempt to defend her Winx Stakes crown at Royal Randwick.

Leading trainer Chris Waller is ready to unleash as many as six of his top spring contenders, including glamour mares Fangirl and Via Sistina, in Saturday’s Group 1 $1 million Winx Stakes (1400m) at Royal Randwick.

Waller has already won the first major of the season on seven occasions and has revealed plans to take a heavy-handed approach into this year’s feature with several of Sydney’s leading riders booked.

Fangirl won the race last year and leading jockey James McDonald will likely partner the mare on Saturday while Waller said Kerrin McEvoy was the likely partner of Via Sistina.

Both rode those respective mares in exhibition gallops at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

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There are also plans to run Atishu (Tyler Schiller), Buckaroo (Josh Parr), Riff Rocket (Nash Rawiller) and Zougotcha, with Tommy Berry most likely aboard.

Waller said he would use Saturday week’s Group 1 $750,000 Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield as a ‘backup plan’ for the stable but wouldn’t hesitate running all of his contenders in the Winx.

“Although it is a Group 1 race, it’s far from their grand finals,” he said.

“They are all well-prepared, they will all run well but it will come down to luck in running and the tempo of the race and how much pressure is on up front.

“If you have a solid pace that is when your Via Sistina’s and Riff Rocket’s come into it, if you have sedate pace, then Zougotcha will be suited and a medium to strong pace Fangirl will be there one so it’s so hard to predict.”

Fangirl, Via Sistina, Atishu, Zougotcha and Riff Rocket all had 1000m hit outs at Rosehill Gardens over the weekend and Waller believes they all remain on track for their returns.

Via Sistina is set to begin her second Australian preparation. Picture: Jeremy Ng / Getty Images
Via Sistina is set to begin her second Australian preparation. Picture: Jeremy Ng / Getty Images

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TAB rate Fangirl ($2.50) as the horse to beat in the Winx with Via Sistina ($4.50) heading the rest from Zougotcha ($11), Atishu ($11) and Riff Rocket ($15).

“All of them have come up well,” Waller said.

“They are all individuals yet they’ve all done very similar work and had a similar preparations.

“Everything has been pretty straight forward until now and it’s only a week away from their first up runs.

“Fangirl won the race the impressively last year.”

Waller confirmed Joliestar, who also had an exhibition gallop, would most likely line up in Saturday’s Group 3 $250,000 Show County Quality (1200m) as she attempts to put herself in the frame for The Everest.

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FIVE TO FOLLOW

AUTUMN GLOW (1st, race 1)
She is a half-sister to Golden Rose winner In The Congo and looks to scale Group 1 heights herself. It was a most impressive debut performance and one that should be the first of many this spring.

THUNDERLIPS (4th, race 4)
The Bjorn Baker-trained galloper was only getting warm late when finishing 2-1/4 lengths off Pastri in his first up assignment. He should close the gap second up over more ground.

CLEAR PROOF (2nd, race 6)
Gatsby’s was far too good but there was plenty to like about the runner up’s performance. You get the impression the John Thompson-trained colt will improve as he gets up in trip this preparation.

TERRA MATER (2nd, race 7)
Only just gunned down by a flying Kazou late, this Jarrod Austin-trained mare did more than enough first-up in what seemed to be inferior ground. She always runs well second-up and expecting that will be the case again this time.

TOM KITTEN (1st, race 8)
That was the return many were hoping to see from this Group 1 winner in his first run as a gelding. Last year’s Spring Champion Stakes winner was excellent in his return and can be a top level force this spring.

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CRUNCH TIME

Autumn Glow (race 1): The well-bred filly was poised to pounce in the run before closing off in 34.53 seconds for her last 600m. She did it with a bit in hand and it came at her first start.

Gatsby’s (race 6): Settling in the back half to the field, he showed an explosive turn of foot to run his last 600m in a slick 33.48 seconds while Clear Proof wasn’t far behind, clocking 33.56.

Kazou (race 7): Was slowly away and two lengths off the second last horse early in the run before rattling home in a tidy 33.64 seconds for the last 600m. It included closing splits of 10.81 and 11.34.

Ceolwulf (race 8): A touch more than two-and-a-half lengths separated him and winner Tom Kitten however the duo ran an identical race-best last 600m of the race, finishing off in 34.13 seconds.

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STEWARDS SAY

Just Party (race 1): Gave ground in the straight and was found to be suffering cardiac arrhythmia.

Getafix (race 1): Failed to respond to riding and disappointed jockey Kerrin McEvoy with the way he finished off. He recommended considering blinkers. Was found to be 1/5 lame in the near-hind leg.

Vintage Choice (race 2): Was kicked by another runner and found to be lame in the near-hind leg. He had to be scratched.

Lost (race 4): Raced keenly throughout the early and middle stages. Was found to be 1/5 lame in the off-hind leg.

Tarpaulin (race 6): Did not quicken in the straight as Zac Lloyd expected and was one-paced. No abnormalities were found but Lloyd suspected the colt may have come to the end of his prep.

Lord Of Biscay (race 10): Appeared to travel comfortably but Dylan Gibbons was disappointed in the manner it gave ground over the final furlong. Was 1/5 lame in both hind legs post-race.

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TRACK TALK

“We do make sacrifices with our horses at two, but we get repaid most years.” — Trainer Chris Waller.

“He’s a horse that’s always shown us heaps at home since day one. It’s all ahead of him.” — James McDonald on Gatsby’s.

“We have not had her up to top speed at home, I swear on my life, but everything she has done has been very special.” — Waller on Autumn Glow.

“It’s nice to get on a good one for Sydney’s leading stable.” — Tyler Schiller on Autumn Glow.

“The last 300m, wow. Tom’s back.” — McDonald on Tom Kitten.

“I’m not saying he can win a Caulfield Cup but he’s got a similar profile to a horse like Durston.” — McDonald on Etna Rosso.

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YOU CAN BET ON IT

RACE 6
Gatsby’s held around 17% of TAB outlays behind heavily backed Tarpaulin. The best of the bets was $2200 @ $4 with several other $1000 outlays at the same price.

RACE 8
After strong midweek interest in Amor Victorious saw it tightened from $15 on opening into $3.20 with TAB, a resurgent plunge on Tom Kitten followed on race day with the favourite holding close to 50% by jump time. After being trimmed from $3.30 into $2.60, the best bets were $7,700 @ $2.60, $6,000 @ $2.40, $4,000 @ $2.60 and multiple $2,000 bets at $3, $2.60 and $2.40. TAB also took a $9,000 place bet at $1.30.

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THE SCHEDULE
Monday: Bathurst, Scone
Tuesday: Albury, Grafton
Wednesday: Warwick Farm
Thursday: Hawkesbury, Muswellbrook
Friday: Murwillumbah
Saturday: Royal Randwick, Newcastle, Tuncurry, Berrigan, Bingara
Sunday: Goulburn, Narromine

■ ■ ■ ■ ■

RON DUFFICY’S ROSEHILL GARDENS SNAPSHOT

RUN OF THE DAY
While Gatsby’s and Tom Kitten were great in what they did it was the first starter Autumn Glow that stole the show. You don’t see what she did very often coming to a benchmark Saturday race against what looked to be a solid field and treat them with utter contempt.

FORGET THEY RAN
Enotis (2nd, race 9) had a very tough run working all the way in the run and was gallant sticking it out hard to the line.With a better run in transit the result may have been different.

THE BLACK BOOK
Bjorn Baker had a couple of unplaced runners that captured attention looking well in unsuitable races in Thunderlips and Battleton. They can both be placed to advantage in more suitable races moving forward.

RIDE OF THE DAY
How can you go past that man James McDonald? He read the track perfectly and timed the runs of his 5 winners to perfection.

Originally published as Trainer Chris Waller set to unleash Group 1 stars Fangirl, Riff Rocket and Via Sistina in Group 1 Winx Stakes

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Original URL: https://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/horse-racing/nsw-racing/trainer-chris-waller-set-to-unleash-group-1-stars-fangirl-riff-rocket-and-via-sistina-in-group-1-winx-stakes/news-story/c864f0a9c730fc386c67799f6255c692