Another three year old winner for Ferguson

Wyndham harness racing trainer Craig Ferguson has a habit of unearthing quality three year olds and at Winton today he produced another one in Frisky Styx (He’s Watching).

The gelding won by an impressive length and three quarter and adds to the list of three year old winners for the trainer, which includes Glaucus (2), Wag Star (2), Cormac Leo (1) and Da Vinci (1). Like Wag Star and Cormac Leo, Frisky Styx also won on debut.

Owned by Oamaru trainer Brad Williamson, Frisky Styx qualified as a two year old at Ashburton in December and has been with Ferguson for eight weeks.

“I sent a trotter to Brad’s that I couldn’t get going so I owed him a favour. He sent this fella down. He thought working him around the racetrack (grass) would switch him on. He might have been a rogue in his early days, hence the name, but he’s come good now,” Ferguson said.

The team was confident today and Frisky Styx was made $1.40 favourite.

“After working a couple of weeks round the racetrack he really switched on. His last trial and track work since have been really sharp.”

In the Winton Middle Pub Mobile Pace Ferguson used some early gas from gate five and took the gelding to the front. He was pressured between the 1200 and the 600 but managed to shake off his rivals, beating Classic Mission (Vincent) which is trained by Williamson. Opinion (Art Major) was eight and a half lengths back in third.

“You can’t expect soft runs all the time. He managed to soak that up, showed plenty of fight and he still had a bit left in the tank.”

The winning time on an off track was 2-58.7 with the last 800 run in 56.5.

“I think he’ll go on and do a good job. He’s got high speed and as he showed today, he can stay a bit as well.”

Meanwhile Ferguson’s quality trotter Smokin Bandar (Monkey Bones) looks ready to return to racing after winning by seven lengths at the Winton Workouts on Thursday.

“It was just an easy trial. He went well to the line and trotted nicely too. There are no signs of any issues. I think there’s a race for him at Addington this week and we’ll make plans for him from there. He could also go to Aussie.”

For complete race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink