Chris Waller’s super mare Fangirl made a barnstorming return to racing trouncing her rivals by a runaway margin first-up in the 2024 Apollo Stakes results in Sydney.

2024 Apollo Stakes winner Fangirl was too good first-up saluting for the punters with ease. Photo: Steve Hart.

The multiple Group 1 winning daughter of Sebring put the writing on the wall for a huge campaign to come easily picking up the field to fly home in an arrogant run fresh in this year’s Group 2 $300,000 Apollo Stakes (1400m).

For master trainer Waller it was his sixth Apollo Stakes victory and his first since the mighty Winx back in 2019.

Fangirl was third to the since retired Anamoe in last year’s Apollo, but was the one to beat 12 months in one of her more polished performances yet.

She was last seen in the spring when 2.6 lengths fourth to Pride Of Jenni in the Group 1 Champions Mile (1600m) at Flemington, form that was franked last weekend with the winner running second first-up in the CF Orr.

Today, Fangirl relished a return to Sydney posting her first victory since an equally dominant display in the inaugural Group 1 $5 million King Charles III Stakes (1600m) last October.

“She’s come back very well, we won’t get too far ahead of ourselves. It’s good to see a few people actually appreciating who she is. That’s a good little feeling when they come back like that and they get appreciated by the crowd,” winning trainer Waller told Sky Thoroughbred Central post-victory. 

 “The last 12 months she’s come back better. What we saw in the King Charles was pretty special and she’s the real deal and obviously come back very well.”

Jockey James McDonald timed his Apollo run to perfection on the well-backed favourite with Fangirl settled one off the fence well back in the field.

Attractable looked to steal the show leading throughout and around the turn, but with one click of the button J Mac let his ride go with 300m to go.

She quickly put the result beyond doubt, flying past all those in front to put three plus lengths on them in the blink of an eye.

Waller ran the Apollo Stakes quinella with his three-time Group 1 winning three-year-old Militarize showing nice form also first-up for second, while the Kerry Parker-trained Think It Over ran third.

The sky looks the limit for Fangirl over the coming weeks with the mare heading all-in betting for a host of upcoming Group 1 races including the $1 million Verry Elleegant Stakes (1600m) – formerly the Chipping Norton Stakes – back at Randwick on March 2.

Anamoe (2023) was the last horse to win the Apollo Stakes – Chipping Norton Stakes double before the Chipping Norton was renamed the Verry Elleegant Stakes in 2024 in honour of Waller’s former Melbourne Cup winning mare Verry Elleegant.

“She’ll go to the Chipping Norton (Verry Elleegant Stakes). Probably come back to the George Ryder and then the Queen Elizabeth,” Waller confirmed. 

“I’ve just got to go back and see what other horses have done in the past, that’s what I’ve always done throughout my career. Respecting history and those that have done it well before me.”

The Group 1 $1 million George Ryder Stakes (1500m) runs at Rosehill on March 23rd.

The Group 1 $5 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) headlines the Randwick racing action on Day 2 of ‘The Championships’ on April 13th.

The latest all-in 2024 Verry Elleegant Stakes odds online at Ladbrokes.com.au have Fangirl already odds-on at $1.90 to win and are available in full by clicking here.

2024 Apollo Stakes Results & Finishing Order

Table Credit: Racing Australia. 

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