Funshow’s flying as Doyle plots bigger spring targets

This was how trainer Nathan Doyle described emerging sprinter Funshow after he completed a hat-trick of wins in the Kia Ora Bloodlines to Headlines Handicap (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens today.

Doyle admitted there were some concerning signs early from Funshow with connections having to make the tough decision to geld their sprinter.

“Funshow was a rig but he showed us plenty,” Doyle said.
“I thought we will leave him a colt but then he got beaten a furlong in a trial so we thought better geld him.

“He was a big, dumb bugger early days so we had to be patient with him.
“But he’s building confidence with every run and he loves to bowl along in front.”

Funshow ($13) was rated superbly in front by top jockey Tim Clark and simply outsprinted his rival in the straight to win comfortably by one-and-a-quarter lengths from Sponars ($18) and Barking Mad ($1.70) who dead-heated for second placing.

Columbus started $1.95 favourite and after being ridden up on the speed, he was one-paced in the straight and also raced “greenly.”

🏁 Race 3 | FUNSHOW

FUNSHOW delivers the perfect double birthday present for both Tim Clark and himself 🎂 @ndoyleracing

📺 Watch Live: @SkyRacingAU & SKY Thoroughbred Central pic.twitter.com/hjXHhO4Ayc

— Australian Turf Club (@aus_turf_club) August 1, 2026

James McDonald, rider of Columbus, suggested the four-year-old would benefit with the addition of blinkers.

Funshow improved his race record to three consecutive wins (and four placings) from seven starts with Doyle describing Clark’s rides as “brilliant”.

“He racked them, stacked them then booted away on the corner – he just out-rode them,” Doyle said.

Clark, who celebrated his birthday today, said he anticipated Funshow would be able to control the race tempo.

“It looked like a race devoid of speed and he’s the type of horse that likes to sort of get into a nice rhythm and flow along,” Clark said.

“He’s building confidence as he goes through his preparation and is maturing all the time.”

Doyle got the new season off to a winning start and revealed his star mare Churchill’s Choice is back in work and will have her first barrier trial in about two weeks.

Churchill’s Choice qualified for the $3 million Big Dance (1600m) at Royal Randwick on Melbourne Cup Day when she won the Hawkesbury Gold Cup at the Hawkesbury stand-alone meeting earlier this year.

She then ran a luckless second in the Scone Cup before a desperately unlucky second in the Magic Millions National Classic before going for a winter spell.

Churcills Choice

“I think Churchill’s Choice has a good race in her,” Doyle said.
“What she did in Queensland, she was a million-to-one like the caller said, so her for to finish so close blows your mind.

“The Big Dance has the big prizemoney but we are also after black type with her.”

Doyle’s promising Hidden Motive, winner of the Group 2 Roman Consul Stakes last season, is also back in work at his Newcastle stables.
“We are in no rush with him,” Doyle said. “He’s a Magic Millions horse which has good prizemoney for a horse like him.”

Earlier, the Richard and Will Freedman-trained Attractiveness won the opening race of the season, the Midway Handicap (1400m).

“We are on top of the premiership,” Will Freedman joked after Attractiveness finished fast to win.

Attractiveness ($3.20 favourite), ridden by Chad Schofield, ran down a game Krasina ($5) to win by just over a length with Cape Byron ($6) two-and-a-half lengths away third.

“She was strong late,” Freedman said.

“She has a good turn of foot like you saw there but I feel in three or four months time you will see a better horse again.

“I was never concerned about winning a Midway at some stage with her, I’ve always thought she had the ability to do that.
“But she is a late mature and a lot of those Kiwi pedigrees are like that so we are excited to see where she gets to.”