The pre-race hype surrounded Cox Plate winner Via Sistina and new kid on the block Ceolwulf, but it was the evergreen Fangirl who came out on top in their Group Two Apollo Stakes clash.
As the jockeys aboard the two heavyweights had eyes only for one another at the top of the Randwick straight, Jason Collett aboard Fangirl was off and away and the six-year-old sprinted quickly to put the 1400m race in the bag.
Charlie Duckworth, assistant to trainer Chris Waller, said Fangirl was unassuming but could never be underestimated and punters did warm to her late, backing her into a $3.70 second pick.
“Fangirl has been a champion for about three years. Because she just fluffs around doing her own thing early and flies home, people take her for granted to a degree, but she is awesome,” Duckworth said.
“Even in the call, they called Ceolwulf the youngest horse in the race and you do worry when horses get older, they might get a bit slower and the young ones can creep up on them.
“But gee, she was going to be hard to peg back today.”
While it was Fangirl’s day, neither Via Sistina nor Ceolwulf lost any admirers with their respective efforts, both hitting the line strongly late.
Leader Lindermann ($17) fought on to hold down second, a length behind Fangirl ($3.70), with Via Sistina ($2.10 fav) a half-head away third, just ahead of Ceolwulf ($4.80).
Via Sistina won the Winx Stakes over Saturday’s 1400m journey fresh in the spring but Duckworth said the trip was much closer to stablemate Fangirl’s sweet spot.
“Because she won so well first-up over 1400 last prep, I think we all just kidded ourselves into thinking she is capable of that. And yes, (with an) even run she might well have won again today,” he said.
“But her grand final is a 2000-metre race, whereas Fangirl…. She is actually a miler.”
Winning jockey Jason Collett said his confidence increased when he had Via Sistina to his inside during the run and Ceolwulf behind him.
“When I was able to get Via back underneath me on the fence, I had her locked away, and I had Ceolwulf behind me I thought, ‘well, I’ve just got to wait’,” Collett said.
“I probably have the best turn of foot over 1400 so I just tried to utilise that.”
The first four across the line in the Apollo Stakes are set to clash again in the Verry Elleegant Stakes (1600m) in two weeks with Waller likely to split Fangirl and Via Sistina after that run.
The George Ryder Stakes (1500m) and All-Star Mile (1600m) are options for Fangirl, while Via Sistina is likely to head to the Ranvet Stakes (2000m) en route to the Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m).
