Chris Waller is hoping for a much-improved showing from Fangirl and Lindermann in the Group 2 Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday.
The pair finished 10th and 9th respectively in the Winx Stakes behind stablemate Autumn Glow. While Waller was accepting of their runs in a strongly contested race, the veteran trainer suggested that the time might be nearing for the eight-year-old mare, Fangirl.
Fangirl, a four-time Group One winner, suffered her most significant defeat when she was beaten 7.4 lengths in the Winx Stakes.
“Fangirl, she’ll probably race and it’ll be a deciding run for her,” Waller commented.
“It was a strong run race and the backmarkers struggled to get into it.
“It’s a bit of a turning point for her, she owes us nothing, if she wants to race, she’ll race on but if she wants to be a mum then she’ll go be a mum.”
Lindermann, who claimed last year’s Chelmsford Stakes, managed to bounce back from a 10th place in the Winx Stakes behind Via Sistina, and Waller is expecting a sharp turnaround from the seven-year-old gelding.
“Lindermann was just at his top throughout, Hughy (Bowman) said he was just out of his comfort zone there,” Waller said.
“I think what we found on Saturday if you weren’t rock hard fit, it was a tough race.
“And that showed the class of Autumn Glow and obviously Sheza Alibi, because it showed up Aeliana, it showed up Fangirl and it showed up Lindermann, they were a bit soft but that’s a good starting point for the preparation.”
Asterix, who last competed when winning the Group 3 Tattersall’s Cup (2400m) at Eagle Farm, is also slated to join them. Waller indicated that the horse might be aimed at a Caulfield Cup campaign in Melbourne after Saturday’s run.
Lindermann is currently the second favourite for the Chelmsford Stakes, behind Ceolwulf, who finished fifth in the Winx Stakes and has been cleared to race after minor traces of blood were detected in a nostril post-race.
As the Chelmsford Stakes approaches, keen punters are checking the racing betting markets for the best odds.
