First Group I Winner for Cox Plate Hero Adelaide

The Group I ATC Flight Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday proved a procession for exciting filly Funstar (3f Adelaide x Starspangled, by Danehill), a first crop daughter of Coolmore’s 2014 Cox Plate hero Adelaide.

The Chris Waller trained Funstar was a last start winner of the Group II ATC Tea Rose Stakes and was expected to face stiff opposition from Kiwi bred Savabeel filly Probabeel, who finished second to her in that assignment.

Funstar took up the lead and coasted along for James McDonald with Probabeel in close attendance, but when it came to the business end of the race, Funstar was in a class of her own.

She powered clear to win the 1600 metre feature by more than three lengths over Probabeel.

"She was so happy out in front,” James McDonald said.

“She is a super filly, a star in the making, and it's a privilege to be part of it.”

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.

With four wins and a second from five starts, Funstar has already won nearly $550,000 in prizemoney. She has many of the same Youngstar owners involved again including Arthur and Charlotte Inglis.

"We didn't want to over complicate things,” said Chris Waller.

“She is a professional horse that did a few little things wrong last start. She is the real deal. It was her first Group One, but it won't be last Group One."

Funstar has untapped potential and appeals as a filly that will handle longer trips as her career unfolds, although her trainer is in no hurry to stretch her out.

"We were in the same position with a similar horse (Winx) a few years ago,” Waller said.

“She ended up being a very good horse for the stable. Think it would be hard to break my belief, looking after them and respecting her age. She has been basically in since June but I'll have a talk to the owners. She could go to the Spring Champion or the Thousand Guineas.

“At the end of the day, we look after the horse and they will look after you. If I have my way we will see her in the Autumn."

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 and first Group I 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.