A royally bred horse with a name to match, Federer made a belated career debut over 1400m at Ballarat on Thursday and won like a horse with a future.
Ridden by Ben Allen for Ciaron Maher, Federer was among the best to begin before drifting back to fifth to find some cover. The 4-year-old gelded son of Dundeel and Jameka eased out four-wide on the turn before letting down with a dazzling turn of foot to defeat the Tivaci debutant Mr Vivaci by three and a half lengths with the Ribchester (IRE) first-starter Ribcracker four and a quarter lengths back in third.
Federer's debut was delayed when he fractured his pelvis in a trial at Cranbourne.
"I said to (part-owner/breeder) Colin McKenna after I galloped him at Avoca, if this horse gets beat at his first start, I'm going to give up training," Ciaron Maher’s brother Declan Maher enthused.
"I’m wrapped for the owners who have been so patient. He had a few feet issues that John Bunting helped sort out.
“When he was a colt, he was a lot like mum, not a nice horse to be around. He would walk over the top of you, but as a gelding, he has been a testament to the team that helped him get here.”
A half-brother to the Randwick winner Sir Bailey, Federer is the second winner from as many foals for the VRC Oaks, Caulfield Cup, and The BMW heroine Jameka.
The daughter of Myboycharlie was a $2,600,000 buy for part-owners Colin and Janice McKenna’s Halo Racing Services at the 2018 National Broodmare.
The earner of nearly $ 5 million, Jameka was bred by Rick Jamieson’s Gilgai Farm, which shares in the ownership of Federer.
Jameka has an unraced 3-year-old sister to Federer named Miss Alexis and a 2-year-old filly named Adira River by Darley’s first-season stallion Ghaiyyath (IRE).
After slipping in 2022, Jameka was covered by champion First Season Sire, Too Darn Hot (GB), last spring.
