Star Sydney mare Fangirl will head south for Saturday’s Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield, with Mark Zahra booked for the ride.

Trainer Chris Waller opted to scratch her from last weekend’s Winx Stakes at Randwick due to the heavy ground, which her stablemate Via Sistina won. He said conditions in Melbourne should prove more favourable despite showers forecast throughout the week.

“She will run in the Memsie,” Waller said. “She will gallop there Tuesday to get used to the track. The tracks (in Melbourne) dry pretty quickly. They raced there a few weeks ago nine metres off the fence and on fresh ground.”

Fangirl has a well-documented dislike for heavy tracks, unplaced in five attempts, but has excelled on softer going with four wins from nine. Waller stressed she has enjoyed a faultless build-up and missing the Winx won’t impact her campaign. “Her second-up run will probably be down there anyway. She’s ticking over well,” he said.

Waller could also be represented by Moira, Anisette and Buckaroo in the Memsie. They will line up against a strong field including Mr Brightside, Here To Shock, Antino, Deakin, Another Wil and Zardozi.

The Memsie Stakes, the first Group 1 of the Melbourne Spring Carnival, closes nominations on Saturday and is expected to draw a high-quality line-up.

Punters can back Fangirl in the Memsie Stakes with odds available through Australia’s trusted betting sites.