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By Ray Hickson

It comes as no surprise that champion trainer Chris Waller says if star filly Lady Shenandoah is to be beaten in Saturday’s Group 1 $750,000 The Chase Surround Stakes (1400m) it'll be up to something else to come up to her level.

Trainer Chris Waller (Pic: Bradley Photos)

Waller has a strong representation with five fillies in one of the features at Royal Randwick and after her dynamic first-up Light Fingers Stakes win all eyes are on whether she can reproduce it.

All indications from the 14-time premier trainer are that his boom three-year-old, already a Group 1 winner of the Flight Stakes last spring, is only just getting warmed up as far as her career is concerned.

And with 51.5kg in the Group 1 $4m The Star Doncaster Mile (1600m) on April 5 she already looms large over that time-honoured classic.

“She’s our number one seed, she was dominant as she was in the spring and it’ll be hard for the others to beat her,’’ Waller said.

“She’s filled out and strengthened up, she’s going the right way for a three-year-old filly.”

Lady Shenandoah, $1.60 with TAB on Wednesday, will have James McDonald back in the saddle for the first time since her first preparation and she’s drawn ideally in barrier three.

Waller, who has won the Surround once with Hinged in 2022, said there are some quality fillies among his other quartet with Lazzura (fourth), Amelita (sixth) and Declichy Boulevard (seventh) all getting pass marks from their first-up runs.

Then there’s former Kiwi filly Movin Out, Group 1 placed at her last start in New Zealand, who stretched out publicly in an exhibition gallop last weekend.

“There will be some improvement in the others,’’ Waller said.

“Amelita was good first-up and got through the line well, Declichy Boulevard was good from an awkward draw and Lazzura was also good so if they appreciate the 1400m then maybe they can beat Lady Shenandoah but she’s the benchmark.

“Movin Out is a work in progress which is good, she’s run third in a Group 1 race so there’s a lot of room for improvement.”

Expectations will be high for superstar Via Sistina to get back on top in the Group 1 $1 million TAB Verry Elleegant Stakes (1600m) after having her colours lowered by Fangirl two weeks ago.

Waller said he was more than pleased with the seven-year-old’s closing third over the 1400m and he should get one of his wishes granted as Via Sistina drew eight in the nine horse field for the 100th running of the race formerly the Chipping Norton.

“She’ll be hoping for a little bit more speed and not getting stuck in on the fence,’’ Waller said.

“Fangirl is a sprinter-miler, Via Sistina is a mile-2000,m horse. The faster they go the better Via Sistina will go.

“She’ll be close to her peak but 2000m will be slightly preferred for her.”

Via Sistina, $1.85 with TAB on Wednesday, wasn’t able to sprint with Fangirl in a race that developed into a sprint home and Waller said that sort of scenario is always going to favour Fangirl.

“It was exactly the same as last prep, the best run in the race won the race,’’ he said.

“Via Sistina won the Winx and Fangirl ran third. When you’re talking no pressure it’s the less ground you cover and the most economical run.

Lady Shenandoah wins the Light Fingers Stakes

“Fangirl is going to be very hard to beat. She’s close to her peak second-up so she will be at her best.”

Waller provided the trifecta in the Apollo with Lindermann splitting the two mares and he’s hoping to repeat the dose as that horse lines up again, while stayer Land Legend also resumes in the race.

“Lindermann ran terrific first-up and Land Legend has come back really well, the Tancred Stakes is his race and there’s a chance he could get to Hong Kong for the Queen Elizabeth Cup,’’ he said.

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday’s meeting at Randwick