Funstar shows her quality as Libertini worried out of photo finish

23 Sep 19

Her stable has always had the highest opinion of FUNSTAR and before the Spring races commenced, they spruiked to a media conference that Funstar was their chosen one to follow.

Now that the Spring has started to heat up, the classy filly went a long way to fulfilling her potential when claiming a thrilling edition of the Group 2 Tea Rose Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on Saturday.

Libertini (fence), Funstar (middle), Probabeel (outside)

Odds-on favourite Libertini, Funstar and kiwi raider Probabeel hit the post locked together in a heads-up, heads-down finish but it was Funstar in the middle being attacked both sides that her head down when it mattered in an absorbing finish.

Libertini (left) , Funstar (middle), Probabeel (right)

Funstar ($3.60) beat the fast finishing Probabeel ($15) by a nose when they reached the line with Libertini ($1.85) overpowered late to finish just 0.2 away into third spot.

“She is a pretty talented filly,” Waller said.

“I don’t think it will be the last photo she finishes in front in a good race.

"Hopefully not that close next time but we have said all along that she has the right attributes to be a decent horse.

“I think once she gets over a bit further she will even get better.

“That will be over the mile in a few weeks’ time and hopefully things work out and she continues to improve.”

YAO DASH defeats FUNSTAR & EMERALDS at Randwick 7/9/19

YAO DASH defeats Funstart (2nd) and Emeralds (3rd)

Funstar had no excuses when she was easily accounted for by Dynamic Syndications unbeaten and highly promising 3yo gelding YAO DASH at Randwick last start but we do have an opinion of YAO DASH being that he is above average and with Funstar dropping back against her own sex, she was better suited there and found herself back in the winner’s circle franking the formlines around YAO DASH.

Little doubt that the brilliant ride of James McDonald was the difference.

Funstar was tracking one back the fence with Libertini on her outside as the field settled but McDonald quickly summed things up and didn’t want to risk being placed in a pocket by Libertini so eased and then angled off the fence to get to the outside of Libertini as they straightened which proved the difference.

Second and third had no excuses as Funstar levelled up to Libertini at the 300m and fought off both challengers to salute.

“She’s a good filly,” Jockey James McDonald said.

“She did a lot wrong today, the speed was against us through the middle stages, they pulled back to a walk, she got over racing and I was just lucky that I was on a very, very good filly.

“She is a filly going places. If we can ride her back from a stronger tempo we will see the result.”

Funstar is on a Group 1 Flight Stakes (1600m) mission and her trainer is confident his filly will relish the mile in a fortnight’s time.

“On her breeding and breeding comes through in horses (she will be suited in the Flight),” Waller said.

“When she is a sister to Youngstar by Adelaide you have a lot of confidence.”

TAB.com.au shortened Funstar from $4.50 into $4 equal favourite for the Flight Stakes while Probabeel went from $11 into $5.

Libertini’s trainer Anthony Cummings said the stable would now contemplate if the filly went to the Flight Stakes or took a different path through the spring.

Runner-up Probabeel is destined for the Flight and jockey Kerrin McEvoy was rapt with the display despite getting beat.

“It was a really good run, a good last furlong, obviously another two or three hops and she gets them,” McEvoy said.

“She goes out to the mile now for the Flight Stakes and it’s going to be a great race for her.”

Another runner that had flashing lights on her was EMERALDS who rattled home into fourth spot having been way out of her ground at the tail of the field mid way through the race.

To give these 3 fillies such a big start and pick up the ground she did will also see her competitive in the Flight Stakes.

Emeralds finished 3rd to YAO DASH and Funstart last time out and her efforts also supports the form around YAO DASH.