KURRINDA”S ROSEHILL WINNER NOW PUTTING ON A REAL “SHOW”

HE was purchased as a rig, was gelded before he raced and is now putting on a real “show” for his connections.

Kurrinda Bloodstock-raced Funshow ($13) wasted no time making his mark at his metropolitan debut at Rosehill Gardens yesterday, leading throughout in the 3&4YOBenchmark 72 Handicap (1500m), lowering the boom on the much hyped $1.95 favorite Colombus, who finished fifth.

And he was the first leg of a two-track treble for Newcastle trainer Nathan Doyle, also successful at his home track with Lady Of The Castle ($3.40) and $1.55 favorite Heroic Deed.

Hunter-based syndicator Kurrinda and Doyle purchased Funshow for $150,000 at the 2024 Inglis Classic yearling sale, and the now four-year-old son of Cosmic Force has put together three wins in a row and been placed at his four other starts.

“We bought him as a rig (male racehorse with either one or both testicles hidden inside its body), and he was gelded after only a couple of trials,” Kurrinda boss Sean Driver explained today.

“He was pinching himself, so the operation was necessary.

“We didn’t push him and gave him plenty of time because he wasn’t ready.

“As a result Nathan gave him five trials (the first was in June last year and the fifth at Gosford last December) before takinghim to the races.

“Funshow was runner-up at his first three starts, and then resumed when third at Wyong in late April.

“Nathan gave him another trial at Newcastle early last month, which he won, and that seemed to flick the switch.

“Funshow broke through at Newcastle on June 14, won again at Hawkesbury on July 2 and made it a hat-trick at Rosehill yesterday.

“Tim Clark gave him a great ride, dictating the pace out in front and he won nicely.”

Whilst connections were understandably thrilled to win with Funshow at his first start in town, it may be a while before he heads back there in search of further successes.

“I’ll leave it up to Nathan, but we might give him three or four weeks off,” Driver said.

“Perhaps a few days at the stables before going to our property at Fordwich.”

Driver says there is no doubt Funshow is open to further improvement.

“He has had only the seven starts, and is really starting to come into his own,” he said.

“But we’re on the eve of the spring carnival in Sydney, so it might be best to wait a while and come back later in the year.

“Irrespective, Funshow’s owners are being rewarded now by being patient with him, and there is more fun ahead.”

Kurrinda maide it two Saturday wins on end after having scored with The Kosciuszko contender So You Pence at Royal Randwick a week earlier.

“So You Pence has pulled up well, and we’re going to keep her on the fresh side and have her ready for a first-up crack at The Kosciuszko ($2m feature for country-trained horses on October 17),” Driver said.

Meanwhile, Doyle became the leading trainer in the State on the first day of the new racing season with his treble.

Jean Van Overmeire partnered both Lady Of The Castle and Heroic Deed in their Newcastle victories.

Lady Of The Castle, a $125,000 yearling purchase and younger half-sister to Yorkshire (last December’s Group 2 The Ingham winner at Royal Randwick), broke through at her sixth start – and third for her new trainer – in the 4YO & Up Maiden Handicap (1200m).

Heroic Deed was a $120,000 purchase at the Adelaide Magic Millions yearling sale in 2024.

The lightly-raced four-year-old son of Golden Slipper winner Farnan is heading in the right direction; He won on debut at the Beaumont track last December before finishing secondthere a month later, and then went for a spell.

STORY JOHN CURTIS, AUGUST 2, 2026 - BRADLEY PHOTOS