First Winner for Cox Plate Hero Adelaide

Tara Madgwick - Wednesday June 5
The subject of a Breednet 'Juvenile Trial Watch' story last month exciting Adelaide (IRE) filly Funstar put a smile on her trainer Chris Waller's face when she romped home to win as she pleased on debut at Canterbury on Wednesday.

Funstar as a yearlingA half-sister to last year's Group I BRC Queensland Oaks winner Youngstar, who is also trained by Waller, Funstar had shown plenty of promise in recent trials and went to the races well educated and ready to fire despite taking on a field of two and three year-olds in the 1250 metre maiden.

Ridden quietly from a wide gate, she angled to the outside turning for home and came with a late rush for Robbie Dolan to race away and win by more than three lengths in a dominant display as a hot favourite.

"She's a very smart filly and has shown that in her trials," said Waller.

"Being by Adelaide suggests distance won't be a problem and that's why we rode her back today.

"I'm tickled pink with her. She has such a bright future and the owners will have so much fun with her."

AdelaideFunstar was purchased for $80,000 from the Bowness Stud draft at Inglis Easter by Anton Koolman Bloodstock, who also purchased Youngstar and has many of the same owners involved again.

She is a half-sister to not only Youngstar, but also stakes-placed Eleven Seconds and is from blue-blooded Danehill import Starspangled (IRE), a daughter of Champion 3YO Filly and five time Group I winner User Friendly. Starspangled was back at Coolmore last spring and is now in foal to Pierro.

Funstar is a top class prospect for her Cox Plate winning sire Adelaide, who has had just three first crop runners to date.

A brilliant son of the world's best sire Galileo, Adelaide stands at the modest fee of $11,000 at Coolmore this spring and has been well supported in his first four seasons covering over 400 mares.


Advertisment
More Reading...
She’s Back with a Win!
Flashy Trapeze Artist mare She’s an Artist is an eye-catcher, not just for her considerable talent, but also for her abundant bling and she was able to overcome difficulties to score a determined first up win at Caulfield on Monday.
Adelaide Filly Wins G2 Tea Rose
The Group II ATC Tea Rose Stakes at Randwick on Saturday was expected to be won by boom filly Libertini stepping up to 1400 metres for the first time, but it narrowly proved a bridge too far.
One to Watch – Wyong
Wootton Bassett (GB) had a couple of very good colts – Napoleonic and Wodeton - resume from a spell to run the placings behind gun filly Tempted in the Group III ATC Eskimo Prince Stakes last Saturday and we saw another come out and break his maiden at Wyong on Tuesday.
Adelaide Filly Funstar Goes Two for Two
The first winner for Cox Plate hero Adelaide (IRE), exciting Chris Waller trained filly Funstar made it two wins in as many starts when scoring a narrow but impressive victory at Randwick on Saturday.
Small Price, Big Performance: Sharma Princess Rewards Astute Buying
Stories of remarkable value are part of thoroughbred racing folklore, but every so often a horse emerges that perfectly captures the opportunity within the digital bloodstock marketplace.
$625,000 Ghaiyyath Colt Tops Super Successful Inglis Classic
Dean Hawkins of Wentwood Grange couldn’t believe what he was witnessing when their Ghaiyyath colt sold for a sale-high $625,000 on the third and final day of the Classic Yearling Sale at Riverside this afternoon.
$380,000 Home Affairs Filly Sold by Mullaglass Stud
Mullaglass Stud have had some great results at Inglis Classic over the last few days and produced a lovely Home Affairs filly to fetch $380,000 on Tuesday.
2026 Golden Slipper Order of Entry – It’s Going to be a Bumpy Ride!
The ATC have released an order of entry for the Golden Slipper and with question marks on so many runners it’s going to be a bumpy ride to March 21 for punters and connections.
Glamour G1 Mare Legarto Confirmed for National Broodmare Sale
Superstar New Zealand racemare Legarto, a brilliant winner of Saturday's Group One Herbie Dyke Stakes, will attract global bloodstock attention when she is offered at the 2026 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale in May.
First Group I Winner for Cox Plate Hero Adelaide
The Group I ATC Flight Stakes at Randwick on Saturday proved a procession for exciting filly Funstar, a first crop daughter of Coolmore’s Cox Plate hero Adelaide (IRE).