Fangirl revs up for game day to defend Apollo Stakes title at Randwick

Jockey Jason Collett walked away from Fangirl’s solo exhibition gallop at Randwick last week not overly impressed.

But going to the start on Saturday at the track in the group 2 Apollo Stakes (1400m), Collett was sure the six-year-old mare knew it was “game day”.

Jason Collett rides Fangirl to victory in the Apollo Stakes at Randwick on Saturday.Credit: Getty Images

Fangirl ($3.60 Sportsbet) went back-to-back in the Apollo Stakes with a finishing burst to run down Chris Waller-trained stablemate Lindermann by a length. Waller’s biggest star, Via Sistina ($2.05), came from well back for a close third. Joe Pride-trained Ceolwulf was half a length away from her in the race made up of first-up runners.

“Obviously the two that were highly spoken about, Via Sistina and Ceolwulf, I think everyone forgot about Fangirl,” Waller assistant Charlie Duckworth said.

“Fangirl has been a champion for about three years. I think because she just kind of fluffs around doing her own thing early, then flies home, people just take her for granted to a degree. She’s awesome.”

Via Sistina and Fangirl are set to clash again in the group 1 Chipping Norton Stakes, now the Verry Elleegant Stakes, over 1600m on March 1 at Randwick.

Magic return for Begg mare

Victorian galloper Magic Time showed she was far more than a wet-track specialist with a blistering finish to win first-up in the group 2 Expressway Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday.

Under Jordan Childs, the five-year-old was stuck for a run until a gap opened at the 200m mark, and she burst through to win by a half neck from Iowna Merc. On a good 4 surface, they ran a last 600m of 32.52 seconds.

Trainer Grahame Begg, who brought Magic Time to Randwick for heavy track wins in the PJ Bell and All Aged Stakes, was looking to the Canterbury Stakes, then potentially the George Ryder and All Aged.

“She’s come up really well this preparation,” Begg said.

Jordan Childs rides Magic Time to victory.Credit: Getty Images

“It was probably the best she’s ever spelled. Her coat has just been glowing the whole time.

“We brought her here because we thought she’d get some give in the ground. She’s affective on top of the ground as well, but just getting cut in the ground, if it gets wetter as the autumn goes on, she’s going to come right into play.”

Kehoe dreams of Slipper riches

Wyong horseman Allan Kehoe has dreamed of training a horse good enough for a race like the Golden Slipper since he left school at age 13 to focus on thoroughbreds.

Now the 41-year-old not only has one to train, in Shaggy, but he also owns 80 per cent of the gelding.

Shaggy, which Kooringal Stud withdrew from sales to race with and lease to Kehoe, led then kicked clear for a two and a quarter-length win in the Pierro Plate (1100m), rocketing into contention for the $5 million Golden Slipper (1200m).

Kehoe fought back tears of joy talking about the prospect of a Slipper shot as he celebrated his biggest thrill in racing.

“I’ve been training for 10 years, but I left school when I was 13 to start with horses,” Kehoe said.

“I’ve had 200 winners, but it’s been a long time waiting for a good horse.

“We all dream of having one of these, and when they come along, it’s just holding them together. The best part about him, I’ve got 80 per cent of him.”

Shaggy, named after his frisky behaviour before being gelded, will head to the Todman Stakes. Connections will need to pay a late entry fee of $150,000 for the Slipper. The first runner of sire Sandbar, Shaggy is unbeaten after three starts.

“And we might win [the Slipper] yet,” Kehoe said.

“He put them to the sword … I could have done a nude run, I was that excited.”

Adam Hyeronimus picked up the ride on Shaggy after Aaron Bullock couldn’t make weight.

Lloyd’s Lady in cruise control

Whether Autumn Glow makes it to the group 1 Surround Stakes or not, Waller looks to have the filly to beat after Lady Shenandoah cruised to victory in the group 2 Light Fingers Stakes (1200m) on Saturday.

Jockey Zac Lloyd put Lady Shenandoah in behind the frontrunners with cover from gate seven before she breezed past leader Lady Of Camelot in the last 200m to win easing down by 1.18 lengths.

Lady Shenandoah firmed into a $1.90 favourite for the 1400m Surround in front of stablemate Autumn Glow ($5), which has trialled once and is racing the clock to be fit for the March 1 race.

“She’s obviously an incredible athlete and was aided by an absolutely stunning ride by Zac,” Duckworth said.

James McDonald wins on Autumn Glow.Credit: Getty Images

“He got in her in beautiful position from what could have been a slightly sticky draw and she’s gone about her business beautifully.

“Lady Of Camelot is no slouch to run past in the concluding stages, and she seems to have done it with a bit in hand.

“She gets up over a lot further than the 1200, so to do it first-up, she’s going to take a world of beating next time.”

Lloyd finished with a treble after wins on Tapa Kick and More Territories.

Overdue win for Godolphin mare

Consistent Godolphin mare Inhibitions broke through in the group 3 Triscay Stakes (1200m) for a valuable black-type win after five placings in stakes company.

Inhibitions was given a nice run behind the leaders by Kerrin McEvoy before taking over inside the 150m and holding off fast-finishing Clear Thinking by two thirds of a length.

It was Inhibitions’ fifth win in 25 starts, which include 11 placings.

“Job done,” Godolphin’s Darren Beadman said.

“Now whatever we get on top of this is just cream.

“She’s a big-framed mare, so she’s going to let down nicely in the broodmare barn.”

Roper rewarded for effort

Randwick trainer John O’Shea was full of praise for apprentice Anna Roper after she kept exciting four-year-old gelding Yorkshire’s winning streak alive on Saturday.

Taking over from James McDonald, the Central Coast jockey gave Yorkshire a trouble-free run in the 1600m benchmark 88 handicap. The one and a quarter length win was his third in a row.

O’Shea said Yorkshire would go for a break before returning to target the Scone Cup in May.

“She rode him beautifully, she’s got immense poise for a three-kilo claimer and we’ve got an enormous opinion of Anna,” O’Shea said.

“She’s been coming in to do a little bit of work for us once a week, and it’s good to repay her efforts by putting her on a nice horse.”

Two careless riding suspensions from the day soured the win for Roper.