Trainer Rob
Heathcote capped off a red letter day at
Caulfield with a superb comeback win from Funtantes at Doomben on Saturday.
Heathcote
started the day on a high with Buffering's brilliant win in the G2 Schillaci Stakes
(1000m) in Melbourne before Funtantes led all the way in the Iona College Old
Boys Handicap (1200m) in his home State.
The six-year-old,
who was having her first start since failing in the Listed Eye Liner Stakes at
Ipswich on June 16, never looked in danger scoring by 2-3/4 lengths over
Morning Captain.
Theft filled
the minor placing only a short head away.
Shortly
after Funtantes landed her seventh win in 36 starts, Solzhenitsyn gave Heathcote
his second Group One of his career in the Toorak Handicap (1600m) at Caulfield.
"It's
been a great day. It's the biggest day of my life," Heathcote said.
"First
it was a Group Two with Buffering then
we made it two wins with Funtantes and then a Group One with
Solzhenitsyn."
Funtantes,
a daughter of Easy Rocking, failed to win during her winter campaign but still earned
prizemoney in four of her six starts.
Her best
performances was at the start of her campaign when runner-up in the Listed
Bright Shadow and Listed Juanmo Stakes at Eagle Farm in April.
Heathcote revealed
he was always confident Funtantes could make a winning return.
"She's
a quality mare and her first couple of runs back from a spell are normally her best,"
he said.
"I
used the same strategy with her as I did with Buffering. She went into the race
with no jumpout and no barrier trial.
"She went
through the Magic Millions broodmare sale but the owners didn't get the price
they wanted and were happy to continue racing her.
"Taking
the two kilos off for Tegan Harrison gave me a lot more confidence."
Meanwhile in
the absence of Black Caviar, Buffering is now arguably the country's best
sprinter and is a deserved favourite for the G1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) at
Moonee Valley on October 26.
Heathcote is undecided yet whether Buffering
will head to Perth for the G1 Winterbottom Stakes or to embark on his first overseas
trip for the G1 Hong Kong Sprint at the international meeting at Sha Tin in December.
Racing Queensland webnews October 13
Photo: Trackside Photography
