Fabulantes (AUS)
2 c Star Turn – Funtantes by Easy Rocking
O: Mrs V A Heathcote, B W Harry, G N Elliott, T A McPherson, R S Ciobo, N J Brownlow, G Shreeve, T J Altass and W R Mellish
B: Robert Heathcote
T: Robert Heathcote
W: Ultra Maiden Plate, 1100m, April 30, Ipswich
Promising Star Turn (Star Witness) colt Fabulantes made a winning debut in Wednesday’s 1100-metre two-year-old maiden at Ipswich for Robert Heathcote, continuing the fruitful affiliation the trainer has had with the family.
Prior to his debut, Fabulantes had finished second in each of his two barrier trials, most recently behind North Pole (Farnan), who also broke his maiden on Wednesday’s Ipswich card.
Ridden by Noel Callow on Wednesday, Fabulantes produced a strong kick at the 200-metre mark and was eased before the line to win by a length over Spoilt Rotten (Spirit Of Boom), with Cool Aza Beel (Savabeel) filly Kahlua Girl a further 1.8 lengths back in third.
Bred by Heathcote himself, the juvenile is a brother to 2022 Tatt’s Tiara (Gr 1, 1400m) winner Startantes, the joint champion three-year-old filly in Australia in 2021 who was also prepared by Heathcote.
The pair are out of the Group 2-winning Easy Rocking (Barathea) mare Funtantes, the dam of five to race, all of which are winners. Consigned by Newgate at last year’s Inglis Chairman’s Sale, the mare sold to Widden Stud for $1,150,000 and went to Widden sire Jacquinot (Rubick) in September.
Vinery Stud’s Star Turn is set to stand the upcoming breeding season at a fee of $16,500 (inc. GST), down from $27,500 in 2024.