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.
The daughter of I Am Invincible was gallant in defeat, trying gamely all the way to the line before being headed first by Funstar and then by the late charging Kiwi Probabeel. The margins were a nose and a short head with all three fillies running their hearts out.
A filly from the first crop of Cox Plate winner Adelaide (IRE), Funstar raced
keenly for James McDonald in the middle stages with a slow tempo and did well
to overcome that disadvantage to win."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," McDonald said.
"She is a filly going places. If we can ride her back from a stronger tempo we will see the result."
The Chris Waller trained Funstar was purchased for $80,000 from the Bowness Stud draft at Inglis Easter by Anton Koolman Bloodstock, who also purchased her Group I Queensland Oaks winning half-sister Youngstar.
Funstar has many of the same owners involved again, who will be hoping for similar success as her career unfolds this season over longer journeys.
"She has a strong finish to her races, although hopefully not as close next time," said Chris Waller.
"We've said all along she has all the right attributes to be a decent horse.
When she gets over a little bit further she will be even better. The mile of
the Flight Stakes in two weeks time will be perfect."Funstar 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 the first stakes-winner for her Cox Plate winning sire Adelaide. 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.
