Counties Bowl Breakthrough for Fully Funded

From relatively humble beginnings as a mere $15,000 purchase at the 2013 South Island Sale, Fully Funded (NZ) (Fully Fledged) has risen through the grades of New Zealand’s sprinters.

He took another big step forward at Pukekohe on Saturday, picking up a first black-type victory for himself and for his trainer Joanne Surgenor in the $50,000 Listed Haunui Farm Counties Bowl (1100m).

The chestnut gelding had won seven races before Saturday, earning him a rating of 98 and a 60-kilogram topweight in Saturday’s feature. But he was relentless in the last 200 metres, overpowering Go Nicholas (NZ) (Danroad) and Heroic Valour (Fastnet Rock) in a tight finish.

“It was a huge run, he was three wide,” Surgenor said. “He’s got a heart this horse, he just tries so hard. I’m so proud of him. I’m thrilled.”

Fully Funded has now won eight of his 25 starts and $194,975 in prize-money. He is raced by Sir Patrick Hogan, Alistair Sutherland and Peter Walker. The latter pair also shared in the ownership of his Group 1-winning sire Fully Fledged (NZ) (Align).

The 2013 South Island Sale has proven to be a rich source of major sprint success. Another graduate of the Sale was Signify (NZ) (Perfectly Ready), who cost $5,500 and has won nine races and more than $350,000 including the Group 1 Telegraph and Listed Lightning Handicap.