Second Stakes Win for Miss Federer (NZ)

3 February 2019

Miss Federer (NZ) showing her class in the G3 Woburn Farm 2YO Classic. Photo: Race Images PNth
Miss Federer (NZ) showing her class in the G3 Woburn Farm 2YO Classic. Photo: Race Images PNth

Low-priced Book 2 purchase Miss Federer (NZ) (Swiss Ace) showed class and courage in equal measure as she scored her second stakes win in Saturday’s $70,000 Group 3 Woburn Farm 2YO Classic (1200m) at New Plymouth.

Trainer Andrew Carston paid just $10,000 to secure the filly at Karaka 2018, and she more than repaid that investment in a short spring campaign that included victory in the Listed $50,000 Welcome Stakes (1200m) at Riccarton.

Miss Federer struggled right-handed at Ellerslie last month, but on Saturday she put that behind her with a remarkable performance.

Ridden by Lisa Allpress, she was caught up in an intense battle in front that lasted for more than 700 metres.

With fellow Book 2 graduate Hasstobegood (NZ) (Per Incanto) warming up on the outside at the top of the straight, Miss Federer looked vulnerable. But she dug deep and fought that rival off, winning by a long neck.

“It was probably the worst ride of my entire life,” Allpress said. “The plan was to let her roll forward.

“The horse outside her didn’t really let up and kept coming, and I really had to stay positive to hold that horse out. In the meantime, another horse kicked up on her inside. She was a victim of circumstances and nothing went right.

“But she’s so tough. She just kept on finding, I couldn’t believe it. The other horse came at her, but she just kept finding. She’s very, very brave.”

Raced by a big syndicate of owners, Miss Federer has now had five starts for three wins, one placing and $88,410 in prize-money – almost nine times her purchase price.

“Unbelievable – that is just unreal,” Carston said. “I think we can forget she ran at Ellerslie. Everything just went pear-shaped that day. We regrouped, targeted this race and we’ve got the result.”

Vendor Bradbury Park
Purchaser Mr AJ Carston (Canterbury)
Breeding Swiss Ace – Halobelle
Sale Lot 846, Karaka Book 2, $10,000
Bred by Nearco Stud Ltd