Photo: Race Images PN
Dual stakes winner Miss Federer was set to head to the spelling paddock after Saturday’s Gr. 3 Woburn Farm 2YO Classic, but her brave victory altered those plans.
It was a great result for trainer Andrew Carston, who bought her for just $10,000 as a yearling and targeted the race instead of the Karaka Million 2YO after she tailed the field home in her previous start at Ellerslie.
“I felt like she deserved her chance to have a crack at a race like the Karaka Million. We went up there and the first run around Ellerslie was a complete disaster,” Carston said.
“We had her thoroughly checked out by vets after the race and nothing came of it. I found this race to drop back a grade and back to left-handed.”
Miss Federer has now returned to Stephen McKee’s Auckland property, where Carston will assess whether she will press on to the Gr. 2 J Swap Contractors Ltd Matamata Breeders’ Stakes later this month.
“I had her booked to go to Palmerston North for a couple of weeks off before I brought her home,” he said. “But after winning, I changed my mind pretty quickly and sent her back to Stephen McKee’s in Auckland.
“She has had a couple of quiet days since Saturday, which she definitely needed after the run she had, but she’s eating everything that is being put in front of her, which is a good sign.
“I will go and have a look at her towards the end of the week and keep in touch with Stephen and decide whether or not we go to the Matamata Breeders’ Stakes. I will leave that up to the horse to decide.”