The American-bred three-year-old Funcaandun has swiftly ascended to become one of the most promising thoroughbreds in training, following a resounding triumph on Saturday, March 30, 2024, at Caymanas Park.
On that pivotal Saturday, the bay colt clinched his third consecutive victory, an impressive feat that has not gone unnoticed. His latest win unfolded in a non-three race for foreign-bred horses aged three years and older, spanning seven furlongs.
Right from the start, Funcaandun broke cleanly from the gate, with jockey Shamaree Muir urging him to take the lead. However, their position at the forefront was temporary, as Wall Street Trader—another American contender, ridden by Jerome Innis—quickly established dominance, leaving a gap between himself and the pack, spearheaded by Funcaandun, under the guidance of trainer Jason DaCosta.
Despite Wall Street Trader's sizeable lead entering the final stretch, Muir expertly rallied Funcaandun into high gear. The colt responded with vigour, overtaking the frontrunner with finesse.
Funcaandun's next challenge will be at the Overnight Allowance level, a test that will gauge his rising star. His winning time was recorded at 1:27.1, breaking down to splits of 24.0 x 46.2 x 1:12.1.
Given the track variant experts' assessment that the course was running approximately 2.1 seconds slower than its standard pace—excluding the straight course—Funcaandun's adjusted time is estimated to be around 1:25.0 to 1:25.1.
The jubilation of Funcaandun's owner, Carlton Watson, was palpable as he shared his elation, "That was a good win by Funcaandun. He is definitely on the move, and we hope for the best in Overnight company," Watson conveyed in a post-race interview, his optimism for the colt's future prospects shining through.
