Ferguson looking for home track wins

Bruce Stewart Journalist

Wyndham harness racing trainer Craig Ferguson has a hometown advantage with two runners at the Forbury Park Trotting Club meeting at the Young Quinn Raceway tomorrow.

“They’re both working like they could feature in the finishes,” Ferguson said.

Two start maiden Saucy Delight (Bettor’s Delight) had to be restrained from a wide draw at his last start at Winton. Ferguson took him forward with a lap to run and he had to work hard to get to the lead. He was run down late to finish fourth just 2.4 lengths from the winner.

Saucy Delight (Bruce Stewart Photo)

“I was happy enough as he had to do a bit of work getting around them. I wanted to drive him for one run but he got a little bit keen which he can do. He’s a horse that’s got the ability but he lets himself down by doing things wrong.”

The full brother to Tabasco and Chimichurri will be handled by his trainer and runs from barrier five.

“It’s a nice enough draw, it just depends on what he wants to do. In the past he can rip and tear behind the gate but it’s only a mile, so if he wanted to do that we could probably press forward. It depends on what he wants to do.”

Ferguson’s second runner Prosperity (Sweet Lou) is a recent transfer from Graeme Anderson’s barn. He’s had three race day starts for a win, a second and a miss.

Prosperity (Bruce Stewart Photo)

“It’ll be interesting to see what he does on race day. His work at home and his workout the other day – we’ve been really pleased with. He was a bit fizzed up early on (in his career) and probably wasn’t used to working with other horses around him. He’s starting to work it out and his work this morning (Tuesday) was really nice.”  

Prosperity gets a nice draw at two.

“Hopefully he can settle because it feels like he’s got the ability there.”

And Ferguson has made a gear change.

“We’ve taken off the fixed deafeners and put on the removable deafeners now that he seems a bit more settled. It’ll be nice to pull them out if we need that little bit of extra kick.”  

Ferguson also has a number of outside drives on tomorrow’s eleven race card.

Artmore (Art Major) from barrier four for Jeremy Douglas in Race Four.

“It probably needed the run last start. The draw looks like it could play out alright. Hopefully we can come across, get handy and get a bit of cover.”

Durrant (Art Major) from barrier one for Ross Hope in Race Six.

“He probably went uncharacteristically average at his last start but before that his form has been pretty good. Hopefully he’ll bounced back to his best. One is always a good draw because the fence is always the shortest way home.”  

Nyla (Bettor’s Delight) from barrier six for Shannon Armour in Race Seven.

“She’d been good but was disappointing at her last start. She did a little bit of work off the gate, managed to get to the trail but didn’t run on like she probably should have. Shannon is backing her up this week so hopefully she may have just needed that last run to sharpen her up.”

Gift Card (Father Patrick) from the 10 metres for Jamie Campbell in Race Nine.

“He’s had the two workout runs and was good in both and improved with each one. It’s a reasonably handy field. We’re off ten metres and (have) drawn ahead of most of them so hopefully we can use that to our advantage.”

Ultimate Cullect (Ultimate Machete) from barrier seven for Brett Gray in Race Ten.

“She went really good last start. I drove her and I was really impressed with how she found the line. It’s a bit of a tricky draw but if she runs like she did last start she’s going to go a good race.”

Janaka’s Delight (Bettor’s Delight) from two on the second line for Brett Gray in Race Eleven.

“We’re following out what I think is quite a smart horse in Erratic. It showed a bit of gate speed at it’s last start so it’s probably going to go forward. Hopefully  we can sit handy enough and not have to do too much.”