'A Funstar doesn’t come along that often': Koolman finds a good one
Ollie and Karen Koolman spent the past decade working at Hermitage and as they move on to the next phase of life they have Funstar to keep them at Australia’s biggest race days.
The Koolmans held a proud record in their time at Hermitage and are setting up their own farm in the Southern Highlands to continue in the industry.
Ollie and Karen Koolman lead back The Autumn Sun after his Golden Rose victory.Credit:Getty
“During our time at Hermitage, which was 10 years, every horse that raced retired a winner. We had nine group 1 wins from four different horses and a champion in The Autumn Sun,” Ollie Koolman said.
“It gave me the opportunity to expose my ability at selecting horses and preparing horses and it was a great time, which will stand [me] in good stead for the next chapter.
“Luckily we move on and we have Funstar, which has us excited about the future. It a big difference owning one of your own."
Koolman has always had a good eye for a filly. He found Australasian Oaks winner Egg Tart for $40,000 for Hermitage and only paid $80,000 for Funstar, who is already a Flight Stakes winner and will chase the biggest targets this spring.
“I bought her off what we thought of Youngstar and thought she could end up being good value,” Koolman said. “She has certainly been that for the ownership group and there is more to come.
“We actually bought her by ourselves at Easter but once Youngstar won the Queensland Oaks we asked everyone to come in with us.
“It's actually more fun that way.”
Funstar has won five of her nine starts, including the Phar Lap Stakes, and to go with her Flight Stakes victory she has been runner-up in the Surround Stakes and Coolmore Legacy at the top level.
While she couldn’t win a group 1 in the autumn, Funstar remains one of Chris Waller’s big guns for the spring, but it won’t start with a group 1.
“As a group of owners we are focused on the animal showing her best and it's not about one race and it is the same for our trainer Chris Waller,” Koolman said. “It was a hard decision not to run her in the Winx Stakes on Saturday.
“It is hard to give up a group 1 when you are favourite but it is about winning the races we are targeting later in the preparation and the Show County works for her goals.
“It is not just about this week or this month, we are talking about next year with this mare. A horse like Funstar doesn’t come along that often so you want to make the best of it.”
Koolman is dreaming about seeing Funstar win again over the Randwick mile in the Epsom in October and from all reports she has improved again as a four-year-old.
“Chris is very happy with her. He thinks she is fresh enough to win at 1200m and it is the right race for her going forward," Koolman said.
“The Epsom is the first main target for her and then we will decide if we are going the Winx preparation or the Kolding preparation.
“It is exciting for all of us to be discussing those races. She will have one more run after the Epsom in either the Cox Plate or Golden Eagle.”