Champion trainer Chris Waller says he isn’t worried about Pride Of Jenni’s trademark front-running tactics ahead of Saturday’s Group 1 King Charles III Stakes (1609m) at Randwick, confident his mare Fangirl knows exactly what to expect this time around.
Fangirl and Pride Of Jenni have met three times before, with Fangirl finishing ahead on one occasion — in the 2023 Cantala Stakes (1600m) at Flemington. But it was Pride Of Jenni’s runaway win in the 2024 Queen Elizabeth Stakes that still lingers in Waller’s mind, when she opened up a huge midrace lead to crush her rivals, including Fangirl’s stablemate Via Sistina, by more than six lengths.
“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 boasts an outstanding Randwick record, having won nine of her 12 career victories at the track. She also claimed the race two years ago when defeating Mr Brightside, who again lines up this weekend.
Arriving in winning form after a strong last-start victory over Lindermann, Fangirl will jump from barrier 11 — a draw that doesn’t concern Waller given the expected tempo of the race.
“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.
This year marks the third running of the race under its current name, the King Charles III Stakes. Remarkably, the four horses to fill the quinella in the past two editions — Fangirl, Mr Brightside, Ceolwulf, and Pride Of Jenni — will all clash again on Saturday, setting up a thrilling rematch.
Punters looking to back Fangirl, Pride Of Jenni, or Mr Brightside in the King Charles III Stakes can compare odds and bonuses at Australia’s top betting sites, the most searched platforms on Google for spring racing and Group 1 markets.