Slowly away when fourth on debut to Condor Heroes last month, the David Payne trained youngster improved sharply to race away and beat the Pierro first starter Furlana by two lengths in the 1200 metre juvenile dash.
"He showed us early that he was going to be a good horse," Payne said.
"His last start he missed the break on a heavy (10) so he never really got into the race but I said to Blake today he had improved a lot this horse.
"I think he had a bit of stage fright first-up – babies often do it – but since then he's come on in leaps and bounds.
"I might put him in the paddock now because I think he'll be a nice horse later on."
A $310,000 Inglis Easter purchase from the Segenhoe draft for Payne Racing /
Nordic Racing and Breeding, The Mighty Fed is named for 18-time grand-slam
winning Swiss tennis player Roger Federer.Bred by Segenhoe, he is the second winner for stakes-winning Thorn Park mare Swiss Rose, a half-sister to stakes-winner Prom Queen from the family of Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner Catnipped.
The Mighty Fed is the first Australian winner for Vinery Stud's All Too Hard, who is also the sire of NZ winner Lincoln Hills and stakes-placed horses All Too Huying and Mystic Empire.
All Too Hard's fee this year has been reduced to $44,000, which could prove a bargain if his progeny follow in the footsteps of their sire, who jumped right out of the ground at three to win four Group I events up to 1600 metres, not to mention that memorable Cox Plate second to Ocean Park.
