Sebring Fillies on Fire – Fangirl Wins G1 Vinery Stud Stakes

What a week it’s been for three year-old fillies by the late great Sebring! We’ve seen a couple of G1 contenders in Daisies and Mac ‘n’ Cheese and now an actual Group I winner with Fangirl scoring a richly deserved victory in the $500,000 ATC Vinery Stud Stakes (1850m) at Newcastle.

A homebred for the Ingham family prepared by Chris Waller, Fangirl won the Group III VRC Carbine Club Stakes over the colts in the spring and landed the Group II ATC Light Fingers Stakes over 1200m when resuming from a spell.

Fifth and fourth at her next two runs, Fangirl rebounded to win with a tenacious effort under Hugh Bowman to outpoint her stablemate Hinged and win by a neck with four lenths back to previous unbeaten filly Gypsy Goddess.

“It’s lovely to win a Group I in the all cerise,” said Hugh Bowman.

“They’ve been huge in racing since before I was around and they’ve been with Chris and the team for so long. I’ve ridden so many wonderful horses for them, but this is the first Group I winner.

“She was so gallant today. She’s a lovely filly and has been beautifully managed by the master, Chris Waller.”

Fangirl has won five of nine starts earning over $849,000 and is the best of four winners from Little Surfer Girl, who was bought by the Ingham family for $1.5million at the 2008 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.

By champion sire Encosta de Lago from Champion 3YO Filly and dual Group I winner Special Harmony, Little Surfer Girl won three stakes races for the Ingham’s during her career and earned over $400,000 in prizemoney.

Now a four time stakes-winner, Fangirl is the eighth Group I winner for Golden Slipper winning sire Sebring, whose last crop of foals are two year-olds this season.