Ferguson confident Wag Star can match rivals

Craig Ferguson hopes playing chess rather than checkers with Wag Star will pay winning dividends in today’s Group 3 Central Otago Cup.

Ferguson heads to Omakau knowing he has a horse to match it with any of his rivals in the 2000m feature.

So the trainer-driver has been doing everything he can to encourage his stable star to show it to the big crowd that will be watching at Central Otago’s biggest annual race meeting.

“He can be a moody horse and when he is on the job he can keep rolling at high speed and be very hard to get past.”

“Other times he can be a bit casual about everything and he doesn’t give you the same feeling.”

“We have been working on a few things lately to keep him happy and bring the best out in him.”

“We had a few troubles with his feet but we seem to be on top of them now.”

“We’ve changed his feed around and changed his work around and he seems to be in a good place at the moment.”

“He is the sort of horse where it can depend what sort of mood he is in on the day but everything is looking pretty positive going into Omakau.”

Wag Star brings the best possible form reference into the Central Otago Cup with his third behind Republican Party in the Group 1 Invercargill Cup.

The six-year-old sat parked early before slotting into the one-one and going a nice race.

“I was quite happy with his run it was his first run with the galloping hood on and he travelled well,” Ferguson said. 

“If he could go as well from the good draw (3) he has on Friday he would have to be a pretty good chance.”

Ferguson starts a strong team at the Omakau meeting including Turn N Burn who ran second on her debut on Invercargill Cup Day.

While that looks strong form Ferguson wasn’t thrilled with the filly that he races himself.

“On the sectionals she ran she was a little bit average.”

“The occasion of her first start may have got to her a little bit because it wasn’t up to her trials.”

“She has improved with the run and her work has been quite sharp so hopefully she will be harder to beat this time.”

Babe On The Beach has been the big improver in the Ferguson camp this summer and she heads to Omakau in strong form.

“I reckon she has improved about three seconds this year.”

“She’s doing a bit of work and showing plenty of fight – she’s stepped up.”

“This week it will be a bit hard from the draw (12) but hopefully she can get a bit of luck and go another nice race.”

Ferguson also has Beluga and Franco Seb going head to head at Omakau.

“Beluga has been consistent lately and his work has stepped up a bit.”

“He’s got the draw and gate speed but he has made a mistake early so we will have to play it by ear.”

“Franco Seb has been an improver his last run was handy enough.”

“He probably just needs a bit of luck from his draw (12).”

Ferguson drives most of his team with Mark Hurrell to partner Franco Seb and Riley Harrison to drive Babe On The Beach.

For complete race entries, click here.

by Jonny Turner, for Harness Racing New Zealand