Fangirl has upset stablemate Espiona to win the Light Fingers Stakes.Boom filly Espiona has suffered her first defeat at the hands of barn mate Fangirl in a thrilling Light Fingers Stakes finish that has trainer Chris Waller already looking forward to a rematch.
Both fillies emerged as rising talents during the spring carnival but it was Espiona who captivated punters and they sent her out a dominant $1.55 favourite.
The filly was caught in an awkward spot from a wide draw and she still had the tenacity to hit the front in the straight and fight off the challenge of Jamaea ($11), but she couldn’t withstand the late charge of Hugh Bowman on Fangirl ($13), going down by a long head.
Jamaea was third another three-quarters of a length away.
Waller said Espiona was still learning her craft and the barrier draw was the difference at the finish.
“You’ve got to respect it was only Espiona’s third run and she got a bit wayward in the straight and sat three-wide,” Waller said.
“Hughie (Bowman) gave her a beautiful run, the winner, she was back on the fence, whereas Espiona covered an extra ten metres, it’s as simple as that.”
The result also confirmed a changing of the guard among the three-year-old fillies with neither Fangirl or Espiona competing in the better races at two and both only emerging on the scene late at three.
Waller said the pair were slow maturers and it proved patience was worth its weight in gold.
“Bart Cummings told us time is the cheapest thing, patience, but it is amazing in the autumn you see the next wave come through,” he said.
“It gives you a bit of confidence because you do scratch your head at some times of the year, especially in their two-year-old years where these two weren’t showing a lot.
“But I wouldn’t swap them for anything at the moment.”
Waller confirmed both fillies would clash again in the Group 1 Surround Stakes (1400m) at Randwick in two weeks.
