Funtantes provides connections with Group 2 joy
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Funtantes connections enjoyed a winning day out at Doomben (Noel Pascoe photo)
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As the guests of Darley enjoyed their day at Doomben in a hosted marquee, the Group 2 Darley Champagne Classic 1200m was undertaken and won by a smart filly trained by Robert Heathcote.
That two-year-old filly was Funtantes who proved her worth on the track despite a less-than-strong lead up to the race.
Connections commented she was “flogged” in a track gallop the Tuesday prior by the Clarry Conners-trained Movie.
“That sort of dimmed our confidence a bit,” said Heathcote.
But Funtantes (F2 Easy Rocking-Cantantes) brought her best form to the track.
“She’s a little bit special. She’s a real raceday horse. She just puts it all together on raceday,” said Heathcote.
Funtantes drew the outside barrier 15. Larry Cassidy worked her hard from the jump to get around and across to the lead in the first half of the race.
They maintained the lead to win by one and half lengths in front of $2.80 race favourite Trim (Kerrin McEvoy).
Fifty-one dollar shot Impulsive Dream (Christian Reith) placed third by a half length.
“From the draw we had no option just to go forward,” said Heathcote. “Larry’s a Group 1 jockey and it shows on days like this. Those guys step up to the plate.”
Cassidy knew the filly had the potential to win and expects to see greater things come from her. “I’ve been riding her work into the lead up to this. Her work was alright,” he said.
“She’s a lazy, laidback trackworker but I know she does put her best foot forward raceday.
“She’s a very underrated filly. She certainly showed that today from the wide draw. With a shower of rain about she’s even better I think. I’m sure when she gets up in distance she’s going to be better again.”
After a win at Eagle Farm on April 11, Heathcote was preparing Funtantes for another run a fortnight later but she rolled in the sand roll and pulled a muscle the Wednesday before the planned run.
“That’s the reason she hasn’t run for a month,” said Heathcote. “She was going for that race and then we weren’t even going to go for this race we were going to go last week. But it upset her and for a while there I thought the Carnival was out.
“She couldn’t walk. We’ve done a lot of work with her, taken her down to the beach and we’ve rehabilitated the leg. To be honest coming here today you still don’t know if you’ve got them right.
“It’s come good. She’s done it under pressure and she’s beat a lot of good horses.”
One connection thrilled by the race was breeder, part-owner and Brisbane Turf Club committee member Wayne Purchase.
From six starts the filly has enjoyed four wins, a second and third.
“We’re all feeling pretty well,” said Heathcote. “The beers will taste nice tonight.”
QUEENSLAND Racing web news: Hollie Roberts – May 18
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