Adelaide Filly Wins G2 Tea Rose

Tara Madgwick - Saturday September 21
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.

Funstar - images Steve HartA 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.

Adelaide"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.

Advertisment
More Reading...
One to Watch – Hawkesbury
Castelvecchio has gone from nowhere to somewhere during the course of this spring with three stakes-winners putting his name in lights and he had a promising three year-old colt salute at Hawkesbury on Thursday that has now won two of three starts.
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).
Ka Ying Rising connection draws Hayes team to Shamexpress at Karaka
With one of the world’s most exciting sprinters flying the flag for David Hayes in Hong Kong, it has been no surprise to see the trainer’s sons zeroing in on progeny of Windsor Park Stud stallion Shamexpress during the Ready to Run Sale at Karaka this week.
Vale, Danny Champion
The thoroughbred racing industry is in mourning following the passing of respected horseman Danny Champion.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Rosehill
Half a dozen juvenile heats at the Rosehill trials on Friday morning produced some interesting winners including the half-sister to last year’s Group I BRC Queensland Oaks winner Youngstar.
City of Troy Crowned 2024 Cartier European Horse of the Year
Outstanding Justify colt City of Troy was crowned Horse of the Year at the 2024 Cartier awards on Wednesday night in London at a star studded ceremony at the Dorchester Hotel.
Castelvecchio Out for Remainder of Season
Aeliana’s late charge into second place in the $1.5million Group I MRC Thousand Guineas last Saturday stamped her as the filly to follow out of the race, but it wasn’t quite enough to put her sire Castelvecchio to the top of the second season sires list and he is now out of service at Arrowfield following surgery last week.
Million-dollar Hour for Leung at NZB Ready To Run
Hong Kong bloodstock agent Willie Leung had a big hour at Karaka early on Thursday afternoon, spending more than $1 million to secure two well-credentialled colts at the NZB Ready to Run Sale.
First Winner for Cox Plate Hero Adelaide
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.
Churchill Colt Pulls Off Stunning Pinhooking Result at NZB Ready To Run
Chad Ormsby has enjoyed plenty of racetrack success this year with pinhooks that he has been unable to sell at the Ready to Run Sale, but the multi-talented horseman had a very different outcome with the standout member of his 2024 Riverrock Farm draft at Karaka on Thursday.