“She wins”: Waller star declared in first Group 1 of the season

The first Group 1 of the 2024/25 racing season takes place this Saturday.

The Winx Stakes will be run over 1400m at Randwick with the Chris Waller-trained Fangirl a very firm favourite.

Shane Ciurleo from Star Sports believes the three-time Group 1-winning mare has the race at her mercy upon resumption under star jockey James McDonald.

“I’m surprised she’s $2.20, I think she wins,” Ciurleo said on the Star Sports Happy Hour on SENTrack.

“The way this map pans out for Fangirl, you’ve got those four slow stayers resuming in barriers one to four, you’ve got the leader Tropical Squall from the outside coming across and Zougotcha booting up, then Semana, then nothing else.

“You’ve got Riff Rocket, Atishu, Buckaroo, Via Sistina all back, and J-Mac giving Fangirl a dig and landing fifth one off (the lead) in the run, you’d be taking $1.50. That’s where I’ve mapped her.

“She gets the absolute perfect set-up here, she’s the best horse in the race, she’s got the fastest closing speed over 400 metres, there’s just ticks everywhere.

“J-Mac will be swinging off her, he’ll unleash her down the outside at the top of the lane on Saturday and go straight past them.

“She wins and we’re talking about a Winx-like performance again.”

The six-year-old has a superb fresh record with three wins and three placings from seven first-up runs.

Fangirl is currently rated the $2.20 favourite.

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