Trainer Nathan Doyle’s decision to have promising sprinter Funshow gelded has paid off handsomely, as the rapidly improving four-year-old secured his third consecutive victory in the Kia Ora Bloodlines to Headlines Handicap (1500m) at Rosehill.
Doyle confessed that Funshow displayed considerable talent from the outset of his career, but also exhibited enough traits to solidify the stable’s belief that gelding him was the correct course of action.
“Funshow was a rig but he showed us plenty,” Doyle stated. “I thought we will leave him a colt but then he got beaten a furlong in a trial so we thought better geld him. He was a big, dumb bugger early days so we had to be patient with him. But he’s building confidence with every run and he loves to bowl along in front.”
With a perfectly executed ride from Tim Clark, the $13 outsider set the pace before extending his lead in the home straight to win by 1¼ lengths. Sponars ($18) and Barking Mad ($1.70 favourite) shared second place.
The heavily supported favourite, Columbus ($1.95), was positioned near the front but proved ineffectual in the run home, also displaying greenness.
James McDonald suggested that the addition of blinkers might assist Columbus in realising his full potential.
Funshow has now recorded three wins on the trot, boasting a record of three victories and four placings from his seven starts. Doyle was effusive in his praise for Clark’s handling of the gelding.
“He racked them, stacked them then booted away on the corner – he just out-rode them,” Doyle commented.
Celebrating his birthday, Clark indicated that the race had unfolded precisely as he had anticipated.
“It looked like a race devoid of speed and he’s the type of horse that likes to sort of get into a nice rhythm and flow along,” Clark said. “He’s building confidence as he goes through his preparation and is maturing all the time.”
Doyle also provided an update on his stable’s star mare, Churchill’s Choice, confirming her return to training after her spell.
This talented mare has already secured a spot in The Big Dance by winning the Hawkesbury Gold Cup, followed by unfortunate second-place finishes in the Scone Cup and the Magic Millions National Classic.
“I think Churchill’s Choice has a good race in her,” Doyle remarked. “What she did in Queensland, she was a million-to-one like the caller said, so her form to finish so close blows your mind. The Big Dance has the big prizemoney but we are also after black type with her.”
Furthermore, Doyle confirmed that the Group 2 Roman Consul Stakes winner, Hidden Motive, has also resumed training at Newcastle.
“We are in no rush with him,” Doyle said. “He’s a Magic Millions horse which has good prizemoney for a horse like him.”
Earlier in the day, Richard and Will Freedman commenced the new Sydney racing season successfully when Attractiveness took out the opening Midway Handicap (1400m).
“We are on top of the premiership,” Will Freedman quipped following the win.
Sent off as the $3.20 favourite, Attractiveness, under jockey Chad Schofield, powered home to defeat Krasina ($5) by just over a length, with Cape Byron ($6) a further 2½ lengths back in third.
“She was strong late,” Freedman stated. “She has a good turn of foot like you saw there but I feel in three or four months time you will see a better horse again. I was never concerned about winning a Midway at some stage with her, I’ve always thought she had the ability to do that. But she is a late mature and a lot of those Kiwi pedigrees are like that so we are excited to see where she gets to.”
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