Trainer Chris Waller’s talented Group 1 winning filly Funstar is favoured to maintain her dominance over Kiwi star Probabeel when they clash again in the Group 1 $500,000 Vinery Stud Stakes at Rosehill on Saturday.
Funstar, above in blue checked colours with red cap, is set to clash again with Probabeel, gold and black checks, in the 2020 Vinery Stud Stakes at Rosehill. Photo by Steve Hart.
Funstar has a three – one winning record over the Kiwi filly and has been installed as the odds on $1.80 favourite at Ladbrokes.com.au to make it four wins from five meetings in the Vinery Stud Stakes.
Funstar and Probabeel clashed twice at Randwick during the 2019 Sydney Spring Carnival with the Waller filly taking the honours on both occasions in the Group 2 $200,000 Darley Tea Rose Stakes (1400m) and in the Group 1 $500,000 Darley Flight Stakes (1600m).
Probabeel is on the second line of betting at $3.40 with her only win over Funstar being her first up win in the Group 1 Heineken 3 Suround Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on February when the two fillies clashed in their opening 2020 Sydney Autumn Carnival campaign.
Funstar was quick to make amends with an all the way win over the Jamie Richards trained Probabeel in the Group 2 $200,000 Chandon Phar Lap Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill on March 14.
Both fillies are stepping up to the 2000m for the first time in the Vinery Stud Stakes but Waller is confident Funstar will have no trouble handling the trip.
“She’s by Adelaide, a Cox Plate winner. She is a sister to Youngstar who won two Oaks so she should improve over 2000 on her breeding,” Waller told AAP.
“Probabeel is a very talented horse. It’s great for racing and we will have to be on top of our game again and we certainly will be.
“When you’ve got two good fillies like that, it’s a good spectacle.”
Jamie Richards’ father Paul has been supervising the stables Sydney runners and said that he is looking forward to Probabeel getting back on top of the ground after running second to Funstar on a heavy track in the Phar Lap Stakes.
“It was a super run in the Phar Lap,” Paul Richards said.
“I thought it was really good on a track that doesn’t really suit her.
“She’s better on a firmer surface and the 2000 metres should be right up her alley, the way she races.
“The rivalry is good for racing. Hopefully we can turn the tables on her this Saturday.”
Seventeen fillies have been entered for the Vinery Stud Stakes with Waller also nominating Subpoenaed, Nudge and Betcha Flying.
Early betting for the 2020 Vinery Stud Stakes at Ladbrokes.com.au: $1.80 Funstar, $3.40 Probabeel, $10 Subpoenaed, $14 Missile Mantra, $15 Asiago, Bonvicini, $16 Fascino, $21 Betcha Flying, Shout The Bar, $31 Game Of Thorns, $51 Aspect Ratio, Nudge, $101 Contrition, Strange Charm, $151 Love Me Quietly, $201 Satin Rain, $301 Sorridre.
