Fangirl made an in-campaign cameo at Monday’s trials with Chris Waller taking the opportunity to stretch the star miler’s legs on the Randwick course proper.
The six-year-old finished fifth, beaten less than 1-1/2 lengths by Mazu, who held the trial up for five minutes after initially refusing to go to the barrier but was coaxed around to the start before leading all the way.
The 1000-metre trial was Fangirl’s most serious hit-out since her first-up third in the Group 1 Winx Stakes (1400m) and while Waller said the trial was more for his benefit than the mare’s, it was a good opportunity to take advantage of.
“It’s probably more for the trainer than anything,” Waller said of the decision to trial Fangirl, the $3.50 favourite for the $5 million Group 1 King Charles III Stakes (1600m) on October 19.
“What the trial means is, I don’t have to gallop her too hard between now and the Seven Stakes, which is still a fortnight away.”
The $1 million Seven Stakes (1600m) will be run at Randwick on Saturday September 21, four weeks after the Winx Stakes.
That is also the target for stablemate Zougotcha, who finished immediately in front of Fangirl in the Winx Stakes, which was won by another Waller-trained mare in Via Sistina.
Waller said he would have preferred for them not to clash next up but said the Seven Stakes was the most suitable second-up option for the five-year-old.
“We couldn’t really find the perfect race for Zougotcha to split them, but it’s a $1 million race and it fits in nicely to Epsoms and King Charles (Stakes), those types of races,” Waller said.
Fangirl and Mazu were not the only big names engaged in Monday’s opening trial with Stradbroke Handicap winner Stefi Magnetica and Think About It both beaten less than a head in second and third, while Scarlet Oak was also given a low-key hitout.
The beaten Queensland Oaks favourite finished fourth, just under a length from Mazu.
Amenable edged out Revolutionary Miss in the second 1000m trial, with dual Group 1 winner Tropical Squall third, while Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained The Metropolitan favourite Eliyass finished strongly to win Trial 3, which was over 1250m.