Fangirl set to relish Randwick return in 2025 The 7 Stakes
Connections are backing Fangirl to rebound at Randwick this Saturday after she finished outside the placings in the Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield.
The mare was unplaced for just the second time in nearly 20 months when fourth to Treasurethemoment, having missed her intended return in the Winx Stakes due to a heavy track. Trainer Chris Waller wasted no time returning her to Sydney, where she has sharpened up for her main spring assignments.
“She just didn’t handle Caulfield as well as we’d hoped,” said stable representative Charlie Duckworth. “It was her first time around there. She still ran OK and she has still taken good fitness benefit from the trip down and up and her work has actually been really sharp since she has returned. She loves the Randwick mile.”
At seven years of age, Fangirl continues to deliver at the highest level with 11 wins from 34 starts. Her Group 1 Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1600m) victory in the autumn highlighted her class, and she now chases back-to-back wins in the $1 million 7 Stakes.
“She is the only filly in the race but she stumps up every prep,” Duckworth said. “She always wins a ‘biggie’ so it’s hard to knock her.”
Waller will also run Lindermann, Kovalica, Militarize and Kadavar in the feature. Militarize, who has three Group 1 titles to his name, returned with a strong Tramway Stakes fifth behind Pericles. Duckworth believes the signs are positive.
“His last run rated quite highly in terms of all of his first-up performances. It rated as the second best first-up performance of his entire career so that indicates he is in for a good preparation,” Duckworth said. “Coming off a proper racing prep rather than a breeding barn campaign will help him show his true ability again.”
Militarize, who claimed the 2023 Champagne Stakes, is expected to improve over the Randwick mile this weekend.
Bettors can find markets for Fangirl, Militarize, and Waller’s other runners in the 7 Stakes at Australia’s leading betting sites.
More Racing News
Ingham triumph puts Yorkshire in 2026 Doncaster Mile mix
Tom Charlton may have been only five years old when John O’Shea secured the 2000 Villiers Stakes, but on Saturday the duo jointly celebrated Yorkshire’s commanding victory in the modern equivalent, The Ingham (1600m), at Randwick. The triumph delivered O’Shea a fourth win in the prestigious race and marked Charlton’s first...
Warnie flies late to win The Supernova 2025
With a composed ride inspired by Mark Zahra, jockey Thomas Stockdale steered Warnie to a breakthrough victory in the lucrative The Supernova (1400m) at Pakenham. It was a signature moment for Stockdale, who delivered a tactically brilliant performance as the Ciaron Maher-trained runner stormed to victory in Southside Racing’s second slot...
Weeping Woman too good in the 2025 Razor Sharp Handicap
Joe Pride’s team fired on all cylinders on Saturday, with six runners producing two wins, three seconds and a third across three states, including a dominant stable quinella in the Listed Razor Sharp Handicap at Randwick. Weeping Woman ($2.60 fav) finished strongest to overhaul Coal Crusher ($6), only 35 minutes after...
Taramansour provides locals with a win in the Pakenham Cup 2025
Taramansour produced a remarkable form reversal to hand Phillip Stokes his first victory in the Pakenham Cup, delivering an emotional local triumph. Stokes, who splits his time between his Morphettville operation and his Pakenham base, has had the Cup on his radar since establishing himself at the training centre in 2019. On...
Bargain buy Where’s The Circus dominates 2025 Inglis Nursery
Jean Van Overmeire made the right call in giving up a full provincial book at Newcastle to focus on a single Randwick mount, with Where’s The Circus landing a stunning upset in the Inglis Nursery. The filly, picked up online for just $1250, had impressed Van Overmeire when winning a recent...
Kris Lees sets sights on another summer strike
Kris Lees has frequently struck during Sydney’s summer feature program, and he will again field a strong hand across Randwick’s stakes races on Saturday. Lees’ achievements over the past decade include victories in The Ingham with Loch Eagle and Sense Of Occasion, as well as Razor Sharp Handicap wins with Special...
Fox on the hunt of 2025 The Supernova win
Emma-Lee and David Browne will “roll the dice” one more time with Statuario as they search for a fairytale hometown victory in the Listed Pakenham Cup (2500m). The Kiwi trainers shifted to Victoria in 2022 and settled into Pakenham last season, where a local Cup triumph would be particularly meaningful —...
2025 Pakenham Cup: Browne’s roll the dice one more time
Emma-Lee and David Browne will “roll the dice” one more time with Statuario as they search for a fairytale hometown victory in the Listed Pakenham Cup (2500m). The Kiwi trainers shifted to Victoria in 2022 and settled into Pakenham last season, where a local Cup triumph would be particularly meaningful —...
Yorkshire out to make a summer statement in 2025 The Ingham
John O’Shea’s first major breakthrough as a solo trainer came 25 years ago when Grey And Gold captured the Villiers Stakes. He added another victory with On A High and later won the race again in its rebranded form as The Ingham (1600m) in 2022 with Kirwin’s Lane. Now a decorated horseman...
Choice weather forecast for Litt duo in the 2025 Razor Sharp Handicap
Trainer Richard Litt is hoping Sydney’s pending wet weather plays directly into the hands of his runners Barber and Romeo’s Choice when they contest the Razor Sharp Handicap at Randwick. Both horses are expected to appreciate any give in the track, and Litt believes soft conditions could elevate Romeo’s Choice in...