Chris Munce is the frontrunner to ride talented Queensland filly Funtantes in her Sydney campaign.Rated the 11th best filly in Australia and NZ in the handicappers' classifications last season, Funtantes booked a trip to Sydney following her courageous comeback when runner-up to Gold Coast three-year-old Fab Fevola at Doomben last month.It was the filly's first appearance since she finished sixth to Linky Dink in the Group One TJ Smith (1600m) at Eagle Farm in June.During the Brisbane winter, Fu

Chris Munce is the frontrunner to ride talented Queensland filly Funtantes in her Sydney campaign.

Rated the 11th best filly in Australia and NZ in the handicappers' classifications last season, Funtantes booked a trip to Sydney following her courageous comeback when runner-up to Gold Coast three-year-old Fab Fevola at Doomben last month.

It was the filly's first appearance since she finished sixth to Linky Dink in the Group One TJ Smith (1600m) at Eagle Farm in June.

During the Brisbane winter, Funtantes displayed some of her potential by claiming the Group Two Champagne Classic (1200m) at Doomben in May then was a gallant fourth to Shoot Out in the Group Two Sires' Produce Stakes (1400m) at Eagle Farm a fortnight later.

Her winter performances were enough for Funtantes to be named Queensland's QTIS Two-Year-Old of the Year last season.

Funtantes will leave late this week for Sydney where she will have her first start in the Listed Heritage Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill on Saturday week before the Group Two Roman Consul Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on October 3.

She may then head to the Listed Brian Crowley (1400m) at Randwick on October 17 before trainer Rob Heathcote decides if she continues on to Melbourne for the Group One Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on October 31.

Heathcote has offered Munce first refusal to partner Funtantes in Sydney and is hopeful the former Queenslander will partner the daughter of Easy Rocking.

"It's Chris' call. He's been offered the ride," Heathcote said.

"The filly has done well since her last run and is coming along well.

"I worked her on Saturday morning and I couldn't be any happier the way she's going.

"She went over 100 metres and ran 1 minute 8 seconds and came home the last 400 metres in 24.6 seconds."

Heathcote has never trained a winner outside Queensland although he has gone close on several occasions in Sydney.

"I've run a couple of seconds in Sydney and I've had two runners, Thunder Hawk and General Minolta run in the Victoria Derby but they didn't do any good," he said.

Thunder Hawk finished 10th in the 2001 Victoria Derby won by Amalfi while General Minolta finished seventh to Helenus the following year.