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Golden Slipper Day Inside Mail: ‘Flying’ Fangirl has 2025 George Ryder Stakes at her mercy, trainer Chris Waller says

Narrowly beaten by Anamoe two years ago, then an injury absentee in 2024, is 2025 the year that Fangirl finally gets her name on the George Ryder Stakes honour roll? Chris Waller says yes.

Ray Thomas
Punters - Hold All Tickets Ep 28 - Group 1 smorgasbord
5 min read
1:36PMMarch 21, 2025

Chris Waller’s super mares Via Sistina and Fangirl can both move closer to the magical $10 million prizemoney mark by adding to their Group 1 records at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

Via Sistina, the nation’s best racehorse, has won five Group 1 races already this season including the Verry Elleegant Stakes last start to take her career earnings to just over $9.1 million. She is the $1.35 favourite with TAB Fixed Odds for the $1 million Ranvet Stakes (2000m).

Fangirl has also amassed $9.1 million prizemoney and is aiming for the fourth Group 1 of her career in the $1 million George Ryder Stakes (1500m) for which she is the $3.10 favourite.

Via Sistina and Fangirl were given light workouts on the Rosehill course proper on Thursday morning before Waller told the media he was confident both mares were ready for their big-race assignments.

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Waller admitted the rise and rise of Via Sistina since she won the Ranvet Stakes at her Australian debut 12 months ago had been remarkable.

“We can’t believe what she has done in 12 months, it has been surreal,’’ Waller said.

“She keeps improving and appreciates Australian racing. She has really settled in and found her niche which is 1600m to 2000m.’’

Via Sistina is attempting to become the first mare since Wenona Girl (1961, 1964) to win repeat Ranvet Stakes and if successful she will surely be Horse of the Year this season.

• EXPERT TIPS: Professional punter James Molony’s race-by-race tips, analysis for Rosehill Gardens on Saturday

Fangirl defeated Via Sistina (third) in the Apollo Stakes first-up then ran second to her stablemate in the Verry Elleegant Stakes.

Waller said Fangirl was well-suited coming back to 1500m for the George Ryder Stakes.

“Fangirl was narrowly beaten in the Ryder two years ago by Anamoe then last year she had to miss the race with injury,’’ Waller said.

“The team has done a fantastic job to have her back this year and she gets her chance on Saturday although she has drawn a bit awkwardly.

“But her track rider Courtney Van Der Werf said Fangirl is flying and she is a very good judge.’’

• Ray & Duff’s race-by-race tips, analysis for Golden Slipper Day at Rosehill: $26 Slipper tip

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ROSEHILL BIG BETS AND MARKET MOVERS
Race 1: Lugarno $11-$7, Hell’s Itch $11-$10, Irish Bliss $26-$11
Race 2: Mare Of Mt Bueller $4.60-$3.90, Sounds Of Heaven $8-$5.50, Brigidine Gal $11-$7
Race 3: Alalcance $3.60-$3.10, Birdman $4.60-$3.90, Diablo Bolt $26-$18
Race 4: Autumn Glow $2.30-$1.90 with a bet of $2000 at $1.90, Flying For Fun $26-$17
Race 5: Lindermann $11-$10, Fawkner Park $15-$12, Golden Path $51-$41
Race 6: Broadsiding $2-$1.90-$1.95, Goldrush Guru $6-$5.50
Race 7: Royal Patronage $4.60-$4.20, Tom Kitten $11-$6.50
Race 8: Marhoona $13-$9.50, Rivellino $11-$10, Within The Law $13-$12, Farcited $71-$51
Race 9: Private Harry $3.60-$3.20 with a place bet of $6000 at $1.55, and $2000 at $3.30, Commemorative $8-$6.50, Briasa $8-$7 including a bet of $2500 at $7, Time To Boogie $26-$19
Race 10: Outback Miss $4.60-$2.60, Spring Lee $11-$6.50, Wooloowin $8-$6.50 with a bet of $2000 at $7, Rose Bloom $11-$8.50, Shezanalister $11-$7, Spring Lee $11-$7.50

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EARLY QUADDIE TIPS
Race 3: 1,6,11
Race 4: 3,15
Race 5: 3,4,6
Race 6: 1,3,5,10

QUADDIE TIPS
Race 7: 1,2,3,10
Race 8: 1,5,8,13
Race 9: 6,11,13,14
Race 10: 5,7,8,11

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PRICE CHECK

PRIVATE HARRY (Race 9) has been heavily backed from $3.60 to $3.20 to win The Galaxy including a place bet of $6000 at $1.55 and a bet if $2000 win at $3.30. Autumn Glow (Race 4) has firmed from $2.30-$1.90 with a bet of $2000 at $1.90.

• Huge stakes for Waller’s $1.6m colt in Golden Slipper

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TRIAL POINTERS

BELLAZAINE (Race 8), winner of the Lonhro Plate before her close second in the Sweet Embrace Stakes, tuned up for the Golden Slipper with a stylish barrier trial win at Randwick two weeks ago. After leading and racing on speed at her two previous starts, it was noticeable that Bellazaine sat off frontrunner Headbanger in the trial but descended on that horse and won the trial by a widening margin of nearly a length.

FRONT PAGE (Race 9) is a rising nine-year-old but the dual The Kosciuszko winner was primed for The Galaxy with a close second to Overpass in a Randwick barrier trial. Overpass is one of the best triallists in training and led for home but Front Page kept edging near to that horse with every stride in the sprint to the finish. Front Page ran third in The Galaxy last year and seems to be going just as well now.

• ‘They’ve got what it takes’: Alexiou’s simple Slipper message

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SECTIONAL STARS

MARE OF MT BULLER (Race 2) has been placed in both races this preparation including her eye-catching second behind Little Baia in the Aspiration Quality at Randwick two weeks ago. Mare Of Mt Buller was the only horse in that race to break 34s for her final 600m, recording a 33.83s sectional to just miss over the Randwick mile course. She will be better suited at 1900m for the Epona Stakes.

JEDIBEEL (Race 9) was absolutely sensational winning the Challenge Stakes. He was held up for a run in the straight but when the split came, his acceleration was stunning as he recorded a blistering 32.21s for the final 600m and a 11.1s for the 200m split as stormed to the finish. Jedibeel has drawn wide in The Galaxy and will need luck in running but if he reproduces his Challenge Stakes effort, he will be in the finish.

• Golden Slipper Day Turf Talk: Back the roughie or the obvious?

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BEST BET

BROADSIDING (Race 6) was outstanding winning the Hobartville Stakes first-up then he had his chances when a close second to Linebacker in the Randwick Guineas. He has been improved by two runs from a spell and is back at Rosehill where he excels. The step up to 2000m shouldn’t be a concern as he did run a brave third against older horses in Via Sistina’s Cox Plate last spring. Broadsiding should be at his peak third-up, he’s the class horse of the Rosehill Guineas field, and is getting out to a backable price now around $2 with TAB Fixed Odds.

• Bott bullish about another Royal result in Ryder

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VALUE

WEST OF SWINDON (Race 8) was once challenging for Golden Slipper favouritism but he’s out to ridiculous odds of $31 for the big race. The drift is due to the colt being a late scratching from the Pago Pago Stakes last week after he dislodged a shoe. West Of Swindon’s only two runs have been very good seconds in the Golden Gift behind North England and the Silver Slipper won by Beiwacht. Wodeton ran third in the Silver Slipper and he’s the Golden Slipper favourite. West Of Swindon is drawn to get the gun run from barrier four and he’s definitely worth an each way bet at huge odds.

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Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/horse-racing/golden-slipper-day-inside-mail-flying-fangirl-has-2025-george-ryder-stakes-at-her-mercy-trainer-chris-waller-says/news-story/3a9d9eff5340a1c8f4ce18dce3ce5113