Bubba’s boomer night at the Park

Harness Million night at Alexandra Park last night is one Southland harness racing driver Craig ‘Bubba’ Ferguson will no doubt always remember, winning two of the features and coming within a nose of winning the third.

In the NZB Standardbred Harness Million for three year old fillies he got within a nose with Arafura, (Sweet Lou) of beating the Steve and Amanda Telfer trained Stella Rouge (Bettor’s Delight).

“I’m super proud of my filly for her to get that close to the Telfers one, which looks like something special. I was crossing my fingers after the line and was hoping that I’d done enough. I didn’t think I had but there was still that glimmer of hope,” Ferguson said.

STELLA ROUGE REPLAY

The close win by Stella Rouge, a great performance by Arafura and with fillies like Beside Me and Captains Mistress waiting in the wings, the scene is set for some epic racing in the three year old fillies ranks for the rest of the season.

Stella Rouge, Beside Me, Arafura and Captains Mistress are expected to clash in the Group One $100,000 Pascoes The Jewellers Northern Oaks on April 25th.

“It’s a strong crop. I was lucky enough to drive Captains Mistress. Nathan brought her out to Wyndham last Sunday and I had a drive on her and she felt nice too. It’s going to be exciting times ahead for all of them.”

Ferguson then drove the perfect tactical race on Marketplace (Bettor’s Delight) in the NZB Standardbred Harness Million for three year old colts and geldings.

He was caught wide early before pushing on to the lead. He then handed up to Got The Chocolates driven by John Dunn.

“You can trust in Johnny if you hand up with a lap to go. I was pretty confident he would stay in front. It ended up being the winning of the race for me and his horse went super to run second.”

Ferguson waited for the passing lane and once there, the Regan Todd trained Marketplace showed tremendous speed, achieving the win by a length and a quarter.

MARKETPLACE REPLAY

“He’s lightning quick. He got in front of Got The Chocolates in two strides and went to switch off and thought the job was done. I’ve never had a horse that can accelerate like it. He’s a faultless pacer who can sprint superfast, change gear really quick and it never worries him.”

Ferguson added that last night’s performance by Marketplace in coming up the passing lane was the best in the horse’s short career.

“Coming off that last bend just before the passing lane he felt absolutely amazing. I knew then that he was going to dash through and they weren’t going to beat him.”

He says one of the horse’s strengths is his versatility.

“In that grade you have to do it any way you have to and he’s shown he can do that.”

Ferguson says the next big assignment for Marketplace is the Woodlands Stud Northern Derby on April 25th.

The Southland based reinsman capped off his marvellous night with a super drive on the Hayden and Amanda Cullen trained Don’t Stop Dreaming (Bettor’s Delight) in the Auckland Co-op Taxi 300-3000 City of Auckland FFA.

Ferguson looked to be in trouble inside the last 500 but managed to get a run for the five year old and got up to win by a nose.

“They’d gone so hard and I knew the ones I was following weren’t going to get me into it. It was either run the risk of coming wide or take our chance of getting through them. He was travelling that good that I thought he would only need half a gap. Luckily we had a little bit of luck and it all worked out.”

Halfway up the straight Ferguson thought he was in for an easy win.

“You don’t see it on the angle but I probably shot clear by about a length and a half and looked to have it wrapped up. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Mo’unga coming and absolutely flying. He was taking ground off me really quickly and I actually thought he’d beaten me.”

DON’T STOP DREAMING REPLAY

Part-owners of Don’t Stop Dreaming, Dennis and Mark Dunford hold a slot in The Race by betcha so that’s a likely target for the five year old entire.

“We’ll just sum things up in the next couple of days as to where we go next,” Hayden Cullen said.

Last night was Ferguson’s second best pay day on the racetrack with his five drives earning $161,250. His best was on Derby night when he drove We Walk By Faith to win the Garrards New Zealand Pacing Derby which had a winning stake of $165,000.

“Tonight was probably the first time I’ve had good quality drives in good quality races.”

In the last twelve months Ferguson has been afforded opportunities to drive some of the country’s best pacers and has become a star in the driving ranks.

“I’ve got to give full credit to Regan. He’s put me on the map by giving me the opportunity to drive not only Marketplace but Treacherous Gall before that, Betterthancash and a few of those nice ones throughout the winter. Hayden was looking for a driver and Regan suggested me. I owe it all to Regan.”

Ferguson says driving those top end horses has its challenges.

“It comes with a lot of pressure, especially Marketplace who was a $1.18 favourite. Everyone knows how good Don’t Stop Dreaming is. If I’d got that drive wrong, I would have been copping it from everybody. It’s great to have that pressure and it probably makes you drive that little bit better. You have that little bit of excitement and nerves, but I certainly don’t find myself getting all wound up before a race. I always wanted the opportunity to drive in these races, so I get more excited than anything.”

For complete race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink