Promising colt Federal showed an impressive turn-of-foot to record a strong win in the 2015 South Pacific Classic at Royal Randwick this afternoon.
Federal could contest the 2015 Hawkesbury Guineas after he proved too strong for his rivals in the South Pacific Classic. Photo by: Steve Hart
Jockey James McDonald elected to settle Federal just behind the leading trio in the early stages of the race, while the well-backed Sadler’s Lake was caught wide throughout the early stages of the race, and he tracked into the race nicely.
Federal looked as though he may be blocked for a run at the top of the straight, but McDonald was able to find clear running for the Medaglia D’Oro gelding and he was far too strong for his rivals in the concluding stages.
McDonald was very pleased with the effort of Federal in the South Pacific Classic and he believes that the talented three-year-old is capable of winning an even better race as an older horse.
“He is a really nice horse and he definitely has bigger fish to fry than a race like today and I feel that on a wet track he will be even better,” McDonald said.
“They really crawled and I was lucky enough to get on the back of them and I was thinking to myself in the gates that if I can take it up I will take it up, but it never worked out like and fortunately we got the job done.
“It was very soft and hopefully he can go on and win a really good race.”
Trainer John O’Shea said that Federal has taken a while to develop, but he is very pleased that the three-year-old has been able to put it altogether and record a maiden win at Stakes level after being narrowly denied in the Listed Gosford Guineas (1200m) last start.
O’Shea said that he will let the dust settle on Federal’s South Pacific Classic victory before he makes any future plans, but he confirmed that he could head to the Group 3 Hawkesbury Guineas (1400m) on May 2.
“He is a lovely colt and it was a great ride from Mac,” McDonald said.
“He got on the back of the favourite and he just had to let down, which he did.
“He is a fit horse third-up by this gun sire that we have got in Medaglia D’Oro and I only wish we had more of them.
“I think that we will just get him home, we have always thought we could take him to Hawkesbury and give him one more maybe and that will do him.”
Snake Charmer hit the line fairly to finish second behind Federal in the South Pacific Classic from Ygritte, while Sadler’s Lake weakened late after being caught wide throughout.
