Funtantes Breaks 22 Month Drought
Courtesy of QLD Racing, By Elaine Dittman, Photo by Noel Pascoe
Funtantes powered down the straight at Eagle Farm on Saturday, April 23 to take out the Juanmo Stakes 1200m Fillies and Mares race carrying 57.5 kg with jockey Damian Browne on board. Four-year-old mare, Funtantes (EasyRocking–Cantantes) was a nine dollar chance and jumped from barrier 8 but still managed to out sprint all her competition on the home straight to break her unlucky 22-month losing streak. Sweep Staking (Jason Holder) finished a close second by a long head with Beethog ridden by Shane Scriven coming in third by another half a length.
Trainer, Robert Heathcote was apprehensive heading into the race, as Funtantes had been out in the paddock for a month, and was coming back into the races without a jumpout or even a trial.
“There is always that fear that you don’t have them fit or hard enough, but my intention was to freshen her up and then when the rain came and made the track damp, well it created a small lack of confidence,” Heathcote said.
“I said to Damian Browne, no specific instructions Damian, just ride her where she’s happy and things just fell into place. But Damian is a superb rider, he is at his career best and I’m not overly fussed on issuing complicated instructions to quality senior jockeys on how to ride.”
“She had a lovely run, she was just forward of mid field, back in behind the speed, there was a good tempo, then Damian angled her in the field at the right time and she let down and sprinted strongly to the post. It was a very good win considering she had 57.5 kgs on her back,” Heathcote said.
Heathcote noted that there will always be knockers who have their vision blinkered, who look at a horse’s form on paper and see they haven’t been in the winner’s stall for a long time, and therefore think the horse isn’t any good.
“But what they don’t consider is the myriad of problems that could have occurred for instance, the horse might have been knocked down, raced on an unsuitable track or drew wide,” Heathcote said.
“She hadn’t won for 22 months and she’s already a group 2 winner.”
“I had said to the owners, hang in there, she is going as good as ever in her track work when luck comes our way she can win another race and she did on the Easter weekend,” said Heathcote.
Overall, Heathcote said he is very happy with the way Funtantes travelled but more so with the way she out-sprinted her competition at the end. The quality of the field was quite good as you would expect in a black type fillies and mares race.
When asked what was next for Funtantes, Heathcote said it was now clear she is set for the feature fillies and mares races throughout the upcoming winter carnival in Queensland.
“The Silk Stocking 1200m and Prime Minister’s Cup 1300m on May 7 on the Gold Coast are looking suitable or otherwise the Glenlogan Park Stakes fillies and mares over 1350m looks good,” Heathcote said.
“We also nominated for the Stradbroke Handicap today, (April 27) because if you don’t nominate, you can’t run and win.”
Saturday’s win gives Funtantes five wins from 24 starts and brings her total prizemoney to $339,650 including bonuses.
Funtantes powered down the straight at Eagle Farm on Saturday, April 23 to take out the Juanmo Stakes 1200m Fillies and Mares race carrying 57.5 kg with jockey Damian Browne on board. Four-year-old mare, Funtantes (EasyRocking–Cantantes) was a nine dollar chance and jumped from barrier 8 but still managed to out sprint all her competition on the home straight to break her unlucky 22-month losing streak. Sweep Staking (Jason Holder) finished a close second by a long head with Beethog ridden by Shane Scriven coming in third by another half a length.
Trainer, Robert Heathcote was apprehensive heading into the race, as Funtantes had been out in the paddock for a month, and was coming back into the races without a jumpout or even a trial.
“There is always that fear that you don’t have them fit or hard enough, but my intention was to freshen her up and then when the rain came and made the track damp, well it created a small lack of confidence,” Heathcote said.
“I said to Damian Browne, no specific instructions Damian, just ride her where she’s happy and things just fell into place. But Damian is a superb rider, he is at his career best and I’m not overly fussed on issuing complicated instructions to quality senior jockeys on how to ride.”
“She had a lovely run, she was just forward of mid field, back in behind the speed, there was a good tempo, then Damian angled her in the field at the right time and she let down and sprinted strongly to the post. It was a very good win considering she had 57.5 kgs on her back,” Heathcote said.
Heathcote noted that there will always be knockers who have their vision blinkered, who look at a horse’s form on paper and see they haven’t been in the winner’s stall for a long time, and therefore think the horse isn’t any good.
“But what they don’t consider is the myriad of problems that could have occurred for instance, the horse might have been knocked down, raced on an unsuitable track or drew wide,” Heathcote said.
“She hadn’t won for 22 months and she’s already a group 2 winner.”
“I had said to the owners, hang in there, she is going as good as ever in her track work when luck comes our way she can win another race and she did on the Easter weekend,” said Heathcote.
Overall, Heathcote said he is very happy with the way Funtantes travelled but more so with the way she out-sprinted her competition at the end. The quality of the field was quite good as you would expect in a black type fillies and mares race.
When asked what was next for Funtantes, Heathcote said it was now clear she is set for the feature fillies and mares races throughout the upcoming winter carnival in Queensland.
“The Silk Stocking 1200m and Prime Minister’s Cup 1300m on May 7 on the Gold Coast are looking suitable or otherwise the Glenlogan Park Stakes fillies and mares over 1350m looks good,” Heathcote said.
“We also nominated for the Stradbroke Handicap today, (April 27) because if you don’t nominate, you can’t run and win.”
Saturday’s win gives Funtantes five wins from 24 starts and brings her total prizemoney to $339,650 including bonuses.
