A day after making the main field for the All Star Mile, Chris Waller and the connections of Fangirl are forgoing a chance at the $5 million 1600-metre feature to opt for further Group 1 glory in Sydney.
Second-placed last start in the Group 1 Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) at Randwick, Fangirl was included in the All-Star Mile field on Monday after Jacquinot was withdrawn.
“After lengthy consideration in relation to Fangirl running in the All-Star Mile, the Ingham’s and I have agreed she is best suited to run in the Group 1 George Ryder next Saturday instead at her home track,” Waller said via Twitter.
Fangirl is the $3 favourite in futures markets for the George Ryder Stakes (1500m) on March 18.
The 1600-metre All-Star Mile at Moonee Valley would have seen the four-year-old mare make her first trip to that course, but the more familiar surrounds of Rosehill gives the winner of the Group 1 Vinery Stakes at Newcastle in 2022 – then run over 1850-metres – the chance to improve on her second-placing in the Golden Eagle (1500m) at Rosehill last October.
With Fangirl’s withdrawal, Cascadian is her replacement in the main All-Star Mile field with Sheeza Belter upgraded to provisional first emergency.
