It is highly unlikely Chris Waller and James Mcdonald will be making the same mistake twice with Fangirl.
The six-year-old daughter of Sebring heads to the Group 1 Champions Mile at Flemington on Saturday coming off a previous start sixth in the King Charles III Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on October 19.
Waller and McDonald made the decision to ride Fangirl closer to the speed which was set by Pride Of Jenni, an opponent again on Saturday.
With Pride Of Jenni in any race it can get horses out of their comfort zone, a factor Waller was mindful of when Fangirl contested the King Charles III.
“There was a solid pace, and she’s got a devastating turn of foot and likes to be ridden quiet,” Waller said.
“If you take a horse out of its comfort zone, often it can come back and haunt you over the last part of the race and I think that was the case with Fangirl last start.
“We just rode her a little too positively early, we forgot about her normal rhythm and pattern and had her too close.”
Fangirl has raced twice at Flemington previously.
As a three-year-old filly, Fangirl showed a devastating turn of foot to win the Carbine Club Stakes (1600m), while her only run at Flemington was when she was fourth to Pride Of Jenni in last year’s Champions Mile.
Fangirl is a three-time Group 1 winner, her most recent being over Mr Brightside, also an opponent on Saturday, in last year’s King Charles III.
Waller is expecting Fangirl to bounce back on Saturday.
“Fangirl is coming off a defeat in Sydney that we didn’t expect but there’s been no signs to suggest she can’t bounce back,” Waller said.
“She’s undergone proper veterinary checks and she’s well.
“She’s a talented horse, she’s beaten the best of them.
“We just need to see her get back to her best form and there’s no reason she can’t.”
