Fangirl showed why she’s the queen of the famous Royal Randwick mile with a thrilling last-gasp win over game stablemate Lindermann on Saturday.
The Chris Waller-trained mare needed every inch of the Randwick straight but got her nose down when it counted to prevail in the $1m 7 Stakes (1600m).
In the process, Fangirl defended her 7 Stakes victory from 12 months earlier and enhanced her remarkable Randwick record.
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Nine of Fangirl’s 12 career victories have come at Sydney’s inner city venue, including Group 1 mile successes in the King Charles III Stakes in 2023 and this year’s Group 1 Queen Of The Turf Stakes.
Champion jockey James McDonald has been with Fangirl in the bulk of her major victories and remains in awe of the brilliant daughter of Sebring.
“She’s so good, I love her dearly,” McDonald said.
“She’s such a thrill to ride and every time she gives her heart out there, she’s a line chaser.
“She got in a lovely spot, found the fence, saved ground, and got out with enough time.
“Lindermann fought harder than I thought. Credit to him, he fought when I came up to him.
“I felt like I was going to have it easier and then he fought, but Fangirl was too strong.”
• What the jockeys said: The Shorts and 7 Stakes day
McDonald found the fence and had Fangirl travelling slightly worse than midfield.
His main rival in betting Ceolwulf was a pair in front of him as Lindermann ($5) made his own luck out in front.
McDonald angled Fangirl ($2.05 favourite) off heels nearing the 300m mark and set about chasing the stablemate, getting to him at the post to score by a nose.
Ceolwulf ($4) was two lengths back in third.
We’re all fans! 🙌
Fangirl wins this year’s edition of the 7 Stakes! 👏
@mcacajamez@cwallerracingpic.twitter.com/qhQLMACw1m
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) September 20, 2025
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“It was an intriguing race,” Waller said.
“Lindermann, I thought was rolling along at pretty good sectionals, and I thought, well, he’ll be vulnerable late, but he kept fighting hard.
“I actually thought Lindermann won, but when it’s a stable mate fighting out the photo finish, you’re not too concerned.”
“The Kepitis family, Woppitt Bloodstock, they’re still cheering on the ownership of the Ingram family, which they are. It’s an amazing family, they’ve been so good to me for so long, and it’s just a privilege to train for them.”
It was an important bounce back to top form for Fangirl, which failed to fire as expected first-up in the Group 1 Memsie Stakes at Caulfield.
Waller “didn’t panic” after the run and said Fangirl “got lost” at Caulfield.
He was confident she would bounce back at her favourite racecourse with the champion trainer now set to put another Randwick feature mile in his cross hairs.
Fangirl will get the chance at claiming a second King Charles III Stakes in three years with the mare now an equal $3.50 favourite with boom stablemate Autumn Glow while Lindermann was slashed from $26 into $11 for the October 18 event on The Everest Day.
“The King Charles is the main go,” – trainer Chris Waller speaking to @SkyRacingAU Greg Radley following Fangirl’s win in the 7Stakes@cwallerracingpic.twitter.com/eYihRjaopQ
— Australian Turf Club (@aus_turf_club) September 20, 2025
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“That’s her race,” Waller said.
“She loves the mile, she loves Randwick, nothing more to say.
“Four weeks’ time, it’ll be a big day.”
Waller admitted he thought Lindermann had got it and labelled the game runner-up as a “tough warrior”.
Jockey Nash Rawiller had got Lindermann back to winning ways last start in the Group 2 Chelmsford Stakes and nearly stole another feature from out in front on the Group 1 winning gelding.
“He was very courageous,” Rawiller said.
“I love the way he has backed up from the tough run a couple of weeks ago.
“I thought Fangirl had us cold at the 100m but I loved the way he kept coming.
“Very proud of him. He’s going to win a good one. I just need everything to go right. Let’s just hope it is a $5m race.”
Jockey Chad Schofield felt Ceolwulf’s effort was “honest” with the Joseph Pride-trained galloper also on a path to the King Charles III Stakes.
He drifted from $6 out to $8 for the feature event.