The champion trainer believes the patient approach will benefit the 3-year-old and he would like to put her aside and then reap the rewards of that approach next year.
“It will be hard to break my belief to look after the horse and respect their age,” Waller said. “I’ll have a talk to the owners and see what they want to do.
“You could back her up in the Spring Champion S. next week, go to the Thousand Guineas or go to the Bondi.
“I’m sure there will be a bit of pressure to go there, but if you look after the horse they will look after you. If I get my way, you’ll see her in the autumn.”
“I’m sure there will be a bit of pressure to go there, but if you look after the horse they will look after you. If I get my way, you’ll see her in the autumn.” – Chris Waller
Unbeaten in two appearances last season, Funstar opened her spring campaign with a runner-up finish behind Yao Dash (Smart Missile) in an age group event before she claimed the G2 Tea Rose S.
She had a fight on her hands there and only just held out the late charge of Probabeel (NZ) (Savabeel) and their re-match in the Flight S. was billed as a two-horse race, but Funstar made it all her own.
Small fields – there were only five opposing her – can be cat and mouse affairs, but Funstar dominated from barrier rise by striding to the front and rider James McDonald was always sitting comfortably.
Probabeel raced in second spot, but she was under pressure from rider Kerrin McEvoy to keep pace near the turn and was a distant second ahead of Foxborough (Dissident).
“She was so happy out in front and on a loose rein,” he said. “She’s a super filly and a star in the making. It’s an absolute privilege to be part of it.
“She’s a super filly and a star in the making. It’s an absolute privilege to be part of it.” – James McDonald
“My main focus was to ride my filly the best I could and get her into a rhythm. Chris wrote all the instructions down on my hand because there were that many.
“I just enjoy riding her and she gives me a good buzz. Her half-sister won a Group 1 so they’re equal at the moment, but this filly has got so much improvement to come, she’s a brute of a filly.”
Waller has held a major opinion of Funstar for some time, but gave her time to develop before putting her under serious pressure.
James McDonald gives Funstar a hug after her win
“She’s a talent and we’ve known that for a while and carefully placed her and learnt a bit from previous horses we’ve had in the stable,” he said. “They are great owners and so supportive of racing.
“We knew that she would jump and be a very professional horse. She showed that she’s the real deal. That’s her first Group 1 and won’t be her last Group 1.”
“She showed that she’s the real deal. That’s her first Group 1 and won’t be her last Group 1.” – Chris Waller
Funstar is a half-sister to the Waller-trained G1 Queensland Oaks winner Youngstar (High Chaparral {Ire}) with both purchased by bloodstock agent Anton Koolman, who shares in the ownership.
Funstar as a yearling
He bought Youngstar for $200,000 at the Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale in 2016 and two years later secured Funstar out of Bowness Stud’s Inglis Easter Yearling Sale draft for $80,000.
They are daughters of Starspangled (Ire) (Danehill {USA}), who has produced four other winners, and she is a half-sister to the G3 Cork Give Thanks S. winner Downtown (Ire). Their dam is User Friendly (GB) (Sea Anchor {GB}), a top-class galloper who collected five Group 1 titles.
