After finishing second on debut at Ipswich, the Robert Heathcote-trained Startantes made no mistake at her second start over 1200m at Eagle Farm on Wednesday to make it three winners for Vinery Stud’s first season stallion Star Turn.
This was a hugely impressive performance. Ridden by Taylor Marshall, Startantes had just one of the 10 runners behind her turning for home. Making her run down the centre of the track, Startantes came with a barnstorming finish to defeat the Husson (ARG) filly Mishani Untamed by two lengths with the Bel Esprit filly Mishani Esprit a half-neck back in third.
Bred by her trainer and raced by his wife Vicky in partnership, Startantes is the second winner from as many foals out of Heathcote’s star mare Funtantes.
A tough-as-teak daughter of Easy Rocking, Funtantes won 10 and placed in 13 of her 50 starts while banking $704,550. Among her wins was the Group II BTC Champagne Classic, Listed Nudgee Handicap and Listed Juanmo Stakes.
Heathcote’s connection goes back another generation to Funtantes dam Cantantes, a winner for Heathcote in his first season as a trainer.
The daughter of Just Awesome supplied Heathcote with many winners. Besides Funtantes, they included the wonderful money-spinner Excellantes who won 12 and placed in 16 of his 54 starts with prizemoney of $797,550. The son of Falvelon earned five Listed stakes wins in Brisbane.
Funtantes has a yearling filly by Russian Revolution and a colt foal by Spirit Of Boom. She was covered by Rothesay last spring.
It was a good day for Star Turn. His daughter Sonnet Star made a promising career debut when carrying the Vinery colours to a second behind the impressive I Am Invincible filly Najmaty at Randwick.
Besides his three winners, Star Turn has ten starters that have been placed.
