NO FANFARE FOR FANGIRL, BUT IT WAS A 'FORGIVE' RESULT AS SHE HAS TO SETTLE FOR SECOND PLACE

By Graham Potter | Monday, March 4, 2024

The stage was all set at Randwick on Saturday for the $1.30 favourite Fangirl to ‘just win’ the Group 1 Verry Elleegant Stakes and not only give trainer Chris Waller a record breaking eleventh win in the race, but also to take James McDonald to a fourth successive win in the contest with two of his previous wins coming aboard the self-same Verry Elleegant after whom the race is now named.

With Verry Elleegant passing away recently due to complications while giving birth, Fangirl’s expected victory was set to be more than just a race win as it would have, in all likelihood, evoked an emotional celebration of the memory of a past champion that was held so dear by Waller and McDonald.

But racing would not be what it is and have the attraction it does if it always ran to script and this was one of those times when the script went out the window.

Also, as always in racing, there are excuses that can be made for a hot favourite getting beaten ... and there was no shortage of those bandied around after Fangirl had finished second to Think It Over, failing by 0.82 lengths to reel in her tough as teak rival.

The steward’s report for one was a point of some debate. It stated, ‘The Club's Veterinary Officer reported that the mare kicked a rail whilst being walked and sustained superficial abrasions to the off-hind cannon. Fangirl underwent two separate inspections following this incident and was cleared to start. A post-race veterinary examination of Fangirl did not reveal any abnormalities.’

The fact that Fangirl didn’t jump the best ... that she got too far back ... that she wasn’t comfortable on the soft going ... to some just narrowing it down to suggesting it wasn’t the best rides by McDonald ... were all arguments put in play.

Perhaps the fairest thing to say is that Fangirl might have lost the race, but she should lose nothing in terms of her reputation moving forward because she was beaten by a very good horse in Think It Over who was given an exceptional ride by Nash Rawiller.

Maybe Think It Over got all the favours in the run. Maybe Fangirl had circumstances go against her ... or maybe she was just beaten by a better horse on the day!

How about that for a possibility?

Either way, it is a fact of life that some people have to learn over and over again that there are just no ‘gimmes’ in racing.

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