Leading apprentice Tegan Harrison followed the script and overcame some pre-race doubts when Funtantes scored a brilliant first-up win at Doomben on Saturday.
Funtantes ($6) contributed to a memorable day for trainer Robert Heathcote when she led throughout to defeat Morning Captain ($4.80) by 2-3/4 lengths with the favourite Theft ($1.85) a short head away third.
At Caulfield, Heathcote achieved his second Group One success when Solzhenitsyn won the Toorak Handicap following Buffering’s win in the Group Two Schillaci Stakes earlier in the day.
Harrison was told by Heathcote to ride Funtantes positively and carried out the instructions to the letter when the mare ran her rivals ragged, recording a slick 1.08.62 for the 1200m and 33.51 seconds for her final 600m.
“When I spoke to Rob yesterday before he left for Melbourne his instructions were pretty strict,” Harrison said.
“Our plan was to go forward and be outside the leader or lead if nothing else wanted to.
“When I did my speed map I was a bit concerned she might have to do some work early if we were going to lead but fortunately she got there well within herself.”
Once Funtantes was able to control the tempo without being pressured, Harrison was able to rate the six-year-old perfectly before outsprinting her rivals in the final half of the race.
“When she got to the front and was travelling so strongly I was confident nothing would get near her,” she said.
“She gave me a great feel the last 600 metres with her turn of foot and I’m not surprised she ran those sectionals.”
Jockey Ric McMahon was not disappointed with the effort of Theft who tracked Funtantes throughout but was unable to overhaul her in the straight.
“It was his first time in open company and he had to do the chasing but to his credit he didn’t shirk his task,” McMahon said.
