Favourite Funstar draws wide ahead of Surround Stakes - Can she win it from 14?
- Can Chris Waller claim one of Saturday's two Group One races in Sydney?
Funstar drew barrier 14 ahead of this Saturday's Surround Stakes (Getty Images)
Favourite Funstar draws wide ahead of 2020 Surround Stakes
Chris Waller-trained star filly Funstar remains the $3.40 favourite at Bet365 despite drawing the widest gate possible ahead of Saturday's Group One Surround Stakes at Randwick.
The resuming filly, which was installed as the $3.20 top elect, still holds favouritism ahead of Godolphin gun Flit ($3.90) and Kiwi import Probabeel, who is on the third line of betting at $5.
Funstar will be first-up for just the second time in her career but after a solid track workout at Rosehill over the weekend Waller believes the filly is primed to deliver a powerful resuming performance.
She is ready to go. I was very happy with that piece of work and the 1400m is perfect for her first-up,” Waller said.
While Funstar is the well-fancied commodity, all eyes from across the Tasman will be on star filly Probabeel, who returns to Australia for the first time since back-to-back second placings in the Group Two Tea Rose and Group One Flight Stakes in October of last year.
The daughter of Savabeel resumed with a win at listed level Ellerslie on January 25 and has had a jumpout at Randwick since.
Trainer Jamie Richards said Probabeel has "a bit of improvement in her yet" approaching Saturday.
“Glen Boss was happy with the way she trialled. He said she was a professional that never touched the bridle and gave him a lovely ride,” Richards said.
“She had a decent blow and she has a bit of improvement in her yet. She had a week in the paddock after the Karaka Million three-year-old and we wanted to get her over there and get a trial into her. I think it stands us in good stead building into next Saturday.”
Surround Stakes 2020 Final Field & Betting Odds
| No | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Flit | James Cummings | Hugh Bowman | 7 | $3.90 |
| 2 | Lyre | Anthony Freedman | Kerrin McEvoy | 2 | $7 |
| 3 | Kiamichi | James Cummings | Rachael King | 6 | $34 |
| 4 | Funstar | Chris Waller | James McDonald | 24 | $3.40 |
| 5 | Probabeel | Jamie Richards | Opie Bosson | 5 | $5 |
| 6 | Missile Mantra | Peter & Paul Snowden | Kerrin McEvoy | 1 | $35 |
| 7 | How Wombatic | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | Jye McNeil | 13 | $14 |
| 8 | Xilong | Tony & Calvin McEvoy | Glen Boss | 12 | $23 |
| 9 | Akari | Brad Widdup | Christian Reith | 11 | $61 |
| 10 | Betcha Flying | Chris Waller | Jason Collett | 10 | $61 |
| 11 | Heart Of The Oak | Gerald Ryan | Tim Clark | 3 | $61 |
| 12 | Emeralds | John Sargent | Ben Melham | 8 | $17 |
| 13 | Saas Fee | Gerald Ryan | Josh Parr | 13 | $67 |
| 14 | Aspect Ratio | John Sargent | Andrew Adkins | 4 | $126 |
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