Internationally renowned rider Nash Rawiller will ride Chris Waller’s top mare Fangirl in next week’s Cox Plate at The Valley.
Fangirl has been one of the stars of the Sydney spring, taking out the Group 1 Winx Stakes first-up and then running out a dominant winner of the G1 King Charles III Stakes at Randwick last Saturday.
Both of those wins came under the guidance of James McDonald, however, his commitment to partner Romantic Warrior in the Cox Plate paved the way for Rawiller to secure the ride.
“I thought she was unbelievable there on Saturday,” Rawiller said.
“A mare in form, she showed she’s going better than ever. I know the 2000m is another step for her, but I see she’s won the Vinery over 1850m, which was impressive, she was tough and gritty as a three-year-old.
“I just think, mares in form coming off a win like that, full of confidence, you’d have to go down and ride here. She’s one of our top line milers as we know and really, she’s never been tested at the 2000m, so we’ll wait and see.”
The Cox Plate will be Fangirl’s first start in Melbourne since she landed the 2021 Carbine Club Stakes on Derby Day at Flemington and her second start overall in Victoria.
Sportsbet has Fangirl at $9 in their Cox Plate market.
– racing.com
