Ferguson gets Addington double

Wyndham harness racing trainer Craig Ferguson’s whale of a season continued last night at Addington when he notched up a double.

Grey trotter Smokin Bandar (Monkey Bones) went to the lead early in the Hydroflow Trot and stayed in front, winning by one and a half lengths.

“I was a bit worried about the track. They got a bit of rain, more that they expected. He trotted really solid and felt like the best version of him,” Ferguson said.

Owned by Tom and Julie Kilkelly and Shea and Heather McKenzie, the win was the seven year old’s eleventh and seventh at Addington.

He will now go straight into the $300,000 Group One Renwick Farms Dominion Trot in thirteen days time.

“From Ashburton to last night to the Dominion will suit him. He’s a horse we haven’t really been able to over-race and I think it plays into our hands that Cup Week is a week later.”

SMOKIN BANDAR REPLAY

This will be the second time Smokin Bandar has started in The Dominion. He was third favourite last year behind Sundees Son (Majestic Son) and Muscle Mountain (Muscle Hill) and finished tenth.

“I think I made the mistake last year of not working him on the track enough. I swam him a lot. With a trotter I think they need to be out there trotting so this time he’ll do a fair bit of work between now and the Dominion. None of it will be hard.”

Later in the evening, Wag Star (Sweet Lou) in ‘The Bealey’ Mobile Pace, held on to win by a neck from Jolimont (Sweet Lou) after an aggressive drive by Mark Hurrell.

Wag Star drew the second row and Hurrell followed out Lone Wolf (Sweet Lou) which was sent forward early from it’s front line draw.

“It’s always tricky when you get a draw like that. I was expecting Mark to go back and put him in the race midrace, but he went forward which was the right option with the way the track was playing.”

Once Hurrell had cleared the early traffic he clicked up Wag Star and by the time he exited the first bend he was in front with favourite Jolimont in the trail. Jack Tar (Tintin In America) was the only one to put pressure on, but Wag Star stayed in front down to the wire. The winning time was 3-11.6 on a slushy track with the last 800 metres run in 56.1.

“Mark was super happy. Jolimont was taking a bit of ground off him. It’s easy to say afterwards but I don’t think Jolimont would have got past him.”

Wag Star is owned by Bill and Mary McDowell of Woodend and Bill and Pauline Bain of Roxburgh.

Plans now for Wag Star are to run him in a rating race on Cup Day, on to The Ian Dobson Memorial Christian Cullen Classic on 1^st December and then he’ll tackle the $250,000 Group One New Zealand Derby nine days later on Grand Prix Day at Addington.

“He’s certainly improved from the early part of his three year old season. Once we get through the Derby we’ll put him aside again because just looking at him he still looks like he’s going to improve a bit more.”

The win was Ferguson’s thirtieth for the season and he’s ten wins clear of Nathan Williamson in the Southland Trainers Premiership. His current UDR is a very impressive .5571. His thirty wins have come from just seventy three starters. He’s also recorded twenty two minor placings.

“He’s (Nathan) got a few nice two year olds ready to step out so I don’t know whether ten is going to be enough, but we’ve still got a bit of firepower.”

The win was Hurrell’s twentieth for the season.

WAG STAR REPLAY

Meanwhile it’s likely the very promising Street Art (Art Major) will be retired. He dropped out at his last start at Addington and was back at the trials at Rangiora on Thursday.

“He had a wind operation this time last year after Show Day. That day we followed a horse John Dunn was driving and he pointed the problem out. I followed a horse he was driving at the trials, and he said he was back doing what he did on Show Day. We’ll have to make a plan whether we retire him or if it’s operational again but at this stage I’m leaning towards retirement.”

From just seven starts Street Art won five races.

For complete Addington race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink