Stable flagbearer Miss Federer. Photo: Wild Range Photography
Christchurch-based trainer Andrew Carston has finished 10th on the New Zealand trainer’s premiership for the 2019-20 racing season.
Carston, who trains between 30 and 35 horses at Riccarton Park, had 30 wins, three at black-type level and a strike rate of 9.3 in his best season yet.
“A top 10 finish is obviously a great result,” Carston, who is entering his sixth full season as a trainer, said.
“It’s an honour to see my name amongst so many great trainers who I have a lot of respect for.”
Carston said the improving quality of his equine team and his dedicated staff were key to his success.
“It’s been a natural progression from when I started,” he said. “As we’ve won more races it’s attracted more owners and better-quality horses.
“Go Racing have been a great too, supporting me with quality yearlings and I’ve also had a bit of luck buying the odd cheap one myself.
“I also have a really good team of staff, both riders and ground staff. We all get along well and work hard and I believe that in racing the more you put in the more you get out of it.”
Carston said his 2019/20 season highlight was Miss Federer’s win in the Listed NZB Airfreight Stakes 3YO (1400m) at Wingatui.
“Mainly because she hadn’t been going that good and to win on her grand final day was just a huge result,” he said.
Miss Federer is due to return to Carston Racing Stables for her four-year-old campaign in a couple of weeks, with the Listed Pegasus Stakes (1000m) and Gr.3 Stewards Stakes Handicap (1200m) during New Zealand Cup Week in November, set as her goals.
Carston’s other stakes wins came in the form of Ticket To Ride in the Gr.3 Valachi Downs Canterbury Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) and Miss Federer’s win in the Listed New Zealand Bloodstock Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m) in September.
While his equine team has had a good season the breakout star of the stable this season has been apprentice Kozzi Asano, who took out the New Zealand apprentice jockey’s premiership.
“Having Kozzi on the team has been really rewarding as well and it’s helped having an in form jockey who knows the horses as well as he does has helped” said Carston.
Looking ahead to the new season Carston said he hopes to continue the momentum of 2019-20 and get more stakes wins.
“We have a couple of quite nice horses that I’m hoping can continue to step up the grades,” he said.
“Caitlyn Jay and Where’s Wally have both had one start for one win so you can’t knock them, and I think they could progress.
Hunua Hank could be an emerging stayer in the South Island.”
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