Fourth on debut last month, the Mighty Fed (image Steve Hart) broke his maiden at Warwick Farm on
April 12 and then stepped it up a notch to win this open juvenile sprint over
1100 metres by half a length."He's very good this horse," Payne said.
"He'll just get better and better. It looks like we've got something special so I'll look after him.
"Hopefully he keeps developing and we might have a Caulfield Guineas horse in the spring."
The Mighty Fed also impressed his rider Tim Clark.
"That was good," Clark said. "He's a horse with a really kind nature and good attitude.
"He quickened nicely and was very strong late.
"He's a very laid-back horse which will hold him in good stead as he gets into races over more ground in time."
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.
