The Fed Express delivers evocative win

The Fed Express’s debut win in the Snapback@Clearview Park 1200 at Phar Lap Raceway on Wednesday was a sentimental one for trainer Andrew Carston.

Ridden positively out of the gates by Krishna Mudhoo, The Fed Express took the lead from stablemate Shesascorcher at the 1000m mark and held it throughout, kicking away to win by one and a quarter lengths.

The Fed Express and Krishna Mudhoo cruised to victory at Timaru on Wednesday.

The three-year-old Derryn gelding is the first foal out of Miss Federer, who was the first stakes winner Carston produced as a trainer in his own right, having purchased her for $10,000 out of New Zealand Bloodstock’s 2018 Book 2 Sale at Karaka. Crowned NZB Southern Filly of the Year for 2019–20, Miss Federer won five races including the Gr.3 Taranaki 2YO Classic (1200m), Listed Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m), Listed Welcome Stakes (1000m) and Listed Otago Breeders’ Stakes (1400m).

Upon her retirement, she was sold to Grangewilliam Stud for $95,000 in a gavelhouse.com Plus auction.

Despite his mother’s achievements, Carston admitted that he was surprised to see The Fed Express win on debut, following three unremarkable trials and a disastrous first raceday appearance, in which he refused to load and was late scratched.  

“I didn’t expect it, but the more I think about it his mother was quite similar,” he said. “Her trackwork was never great; she just did enough at the trials, but she saved it for race day. Let’s hope we get similar results from him. “She was difficult to get into the barriers too, and he seems to have inherited that trait too.”

The Fed Express is raced by a large group of owners, most of whom were also involved with Miss Federer.

“She was a cheap filly and she did a good job,” Carston said. “We sold her well, and there was a bit of money left, and most of the owners were happy to go again.

“When her first foal was at the yearling sale, of course I had to buy him, as long as I liked him, and I did.”

Carston purchased The Fed Express from the draft of his breeders, Grangewilliam Stud, for $25,000 at NZB’s 2024 Karaka Book 2 Sale.

Carston was equally happy with Shesascorcher, who provided the stable quinella.

“She went well,” he said.  “She’s a nice filly, still a bit woolly in the coat, but she’ll improve with that run.”

Carston said he was looking forward to Saturday’s meeting at Riccarton where he has seven horses entered including last-start winners Maybe Diva and Say Satono, along with Miss Ziggy, Jon Ol Rocco, Ess Vee Are, and Tossuforit. “We’ve got quite a nice team in,” he said. “Their runs on Saturday will decide the paths we take during spring.” Click here to watch a replay of The Fed Express's win.