Express Courier lived up to his name with a thundering finish to claim an upset first-up Federal win at a sodden Thoroughbred Park on Wednesday.
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The Keith Dryden five-year-old picked up where he left off last campaign, coming from near last under Blaike McDougall who steered him to the widest part of the rain-affected track to run past Mnementh and Mookareena. It was his fifth win in six starts.
Jockey Michael Heagney, aboard fourth-placed Royal Monarch, protested against the second and third-placed horses for interference in the run home, but it was dismissed.
"He's a stayer so he'll go better when he gets up over the distance," Dryden said of Express Courier.
"He [McDougall] rode him a treat for the conditions. I think the ground's probably a bit better out there, you take them when you get them."
The win capped a busy day for Dryden, who worked Handle The Truth earlier on before opting to run him in the Benchmark 88 Handicap (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday.
It means the defending Kosciuszko champion will dodge star sprinters Nature Strip and Classique Legend in the Group 2 Premiere Stakes (1200m).
"He didn't draw too well but we'll see, the horse is on track at this stage so we'll just go with it, try and get a position," Dryden said.
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Earlier on, Nick Olive five-year-old Mohahna made it back-to-back wins with a gutsy staying performance in the Class 1 Handicap (2000m).
Mohahna finished two lengths clear of Jophiel, while The Boomerang crossed the line in third.
"He's gone well on a wet track before, it was good to see the rain come down while he was parading," Olive said.
"I'll just place him round the country for the time being, or there's a Highway up in Sydney in a few weeks over 1800, that could be an option."
Meanwhile, apprentice jockey Patrick Scorse was taken to hospital with an ankle injury after being tossed from his mount Promesa while standing inside the barriers before the final race.
James Buckley
James is a Queanbeyan boy enjoying his second stint at the Canberra Times, more than eight years on from his first. In between he's traveled the world, and spent time covering sport in Sydney.
James is a Queanbeyan boy enjoying his second stint at the Canberra Times, more than eight years on from his first. In between he's traveled the world, and spent time covering sport in Sydney.
