Chris Waller is keeping calm ahead of Saturday’s Group 1 King Charles III Stakes (1609m), unfazed by the presence of front-running star Pride Of Jenni, whose bold tactics famously caught rivals off guard last autumn.
The champion trainer will saddle up Fangirl, who has faced Pride Of Jenni three times before — with her only victory coming in the 2023 Cantala Stakes (1600m). Waller admits the memory of Pride Of Jenni’s dominant Queen Elizabeth Stakes win, where she opened up a commanding lead and raced clear to beat Fangirl’s stablemate Via Sistina by more than six lengths, still stings. But this time, he says, there will be no surprises.
“It has brought her undone in the past but we know about Pride Of Jenni now,” Waller said.
“We know not to let her out of our sights. If you let Pride Of Jenni out of your sights you won’t get past her.
“Fangirl is a great mare and a mile is her right distance.”
Fangirl’s Randwick record speaks for itself — nine of her 12 career victories have come at the track, including this race two years ago when she defeated Mr Brightside. She arrives in winning form after a last-start triumph over Lindermann and will jump from barrier 11, which Waller believes won’t pose a problem.
“The win last start probably helps her confidence and I’m not worried about the draw, there will be plenty of speed on,” he said.
The King Charles III Stakes has quickly established itself as one of Sydney’s premier mile races, and this year’s edition features a star-studded reunion — Fangirl, Mr Brightside, Ceolwulf, and Pride Of Jenni — the exact four horses who have filled the quinella positions in the previous two years.
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