Fedex Wins His Second Group 1 In Garden’s National Derby

Fedex claimed his second victory in the space of six weeks when he set a new record time in winning the $50,000 Newcastle Herald National Derby final (515 metres) at The Gardens last night.

Only fairly away from box two, the brindle dog pushed through on the first turn to take command down the back before going on to score by 2 3/4 lengths.

ran a gallant second, chasing the winner hard, with Eighth Wonder the same margin third.

The time of 29.37 seconds was only 0.12 seconds outside the and the quickest in the series.

Trainer Jason Thompson, who had bypassed the Victorian Greyhound of the Year dinner last night at which his kennel star El Galo was long odds on to take the title, was elated by the win of Fedex.

“He was a bit slow to get going early in his career, but since he has clicked, he has just got better and better,” Thompson said.

“He will go to The Temlee, an invitation race at the Meadows next Saturday night, and then on to the heats of the .

“He is an exciting dog and hopefully he will be back at The Gardens for the 1 Black Top in September.”

Fedex is the first dog raced by the Moss Whitehead syndicate, which is headed by Barry Moss and Paul Whitehead.

Moss owned Awesome Assasin, which is the former Victorian Greyhound of the Year and was also under the care of Thompson.

Fedex broke through for his maiden group 1 success in the Silver Chief final at the Meadows last month and has now recorded 15 wins from his 28 starts.

Runner-up Genista Thunder will head to the Derby in a fortnight while Eighth Wonder is also bound for the Australia Cup heats.

Last night was first time the Derby had been held outside of Sydney.

Story Courtesy : John Gilmour, Newcastle Herald

After the placed runners the field finished in the following order 4th Snozz ($6.20), 5th ($8.90), 6th Big Tee Mac ($9.10) 7th Surfin' Silence ($61.40) and ($51.50).

Fedex is raced by the Moss Syndicate and trained by Jason Thompson at Pearcedale in Victoria. He is a Brindle Dog whelped December 2006 by Primo Uno from Tranquil Goddess ( x Goddess Of Fire).

Fedex has won 15 of his 28 starts and has been placed on four occasions he has an outstanding record at the Meadows winning five of his seven starts. With the $50,000 first prize for the Silver Chief it took his current stake earnings to $138,525.

The National Derby was first run in 1963 and has long been the NCA's Group 1 flagship, at one time was worth $100,000 to the winner. The club changed its direction a few years ago making the St Ledger better known as the Paws Of Thunder the richer of the two events settling on $50,000 to the winner for the Derby.

    National Derby Honour Roll
  • 1963 Keen Linen
  • 1964 Flying Myobb
  • 1965 Chariot Charm
  • 1966 Roman Earl
  • 1967 Mister Moss
  • 1968 Second Stage
  • 1969 Abbey Road
  • 1970 Arthur's Desire
  • 1971 Bomber's Gift
  • 1972 Young Moss
  • 1973 Rushin' Moss
  • 1974 Steelflex
  • 1975 Steelflex
  • 1976 Baguio
  • 1977 Chief Holly
  • 1978 True Leader
  • 1979 Tegimi
  • 1980 General Jeff
  • 1981 Handicap
  • 1982 Lord Tegimi
  • 1983 World Park Ned
  • 1984 Inch Time
  • 1985 Rapid Supreme
  • 1986 Holstein Boy
  • 1987 Shy Sultan
  • 1988 Clover Chief
  • 1989 Worth Doing
  • 1990 Master Hilo
  • 1991 Pretty Tardy
  • 1992 Little Denver
  • 1993 Major Gossip
  • 1994 Indian Dance
  • 1995 Dallas Man
  • 1996 Cattle Drive
  • 1997 Comrade In Arms
  • 1998 Mepunga Blaze
  • 1999 Hahn Bale
  • 2000 Fond Regards
  • 2001 Mean Bean
  • 2002 Medinah
  • 2003 Greasy Grizzly
  • 2004 Pacific Sky
  • 2005 Eiffella
  • 2006 Brother Knows
  • 2007 Slater
  • 2008
  • 2009 Fedex
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[…] The Meadows. Fedex too scored all his points from just three runs in February, starting with his Group 1 National Derby win at The Gardens, followed by a second to El Galo in the Group 1 Temlee and a 4th in Group 1 Australian Cup Semi […]