Ferguson in for busy few days

Craig Ferguson heads to Invercargill on Thursday hoping to take the best possible form to Cambridge’s Night Of Champions.

Ferguson starts three of his own team and links up with four outside harness racing drives at Ascot Park before turning his attention to driving Don’t Stop Dreaming (Bettor’s Delight) in the $1 million The Race by Betcha.

The reinsman will only be having his second drive behind the Hayden and Amanda Cullen-trained star, who is among New Zealand’s best winning hopes in Friday night’s rich feature.

Ferguson can’t wait to reunite with Don’t Stop Dreaming, who dashed to a brilliant victory in the Group 2 City Of Auckland Free-For-All in their only other effort together.

“I am really looking forward to it,” Ferguson said.

“It is great to be able to drive in a race like this and to drive such a high-quality horse.”

The Southlander will head north with plenty of confidence in his horse but mindful that tactics will play a vital role in The Race by Betcha.

“With Don Hugo drawing 2, we know what he is going to do, and we know what Leap To Fame is going to do from barrier 8,” Ferguson said.

“It is going to be very tactical. With three horses on the second line, we are going to have to do some work to slot into the running line.”

“Hopefully, we can find a decent position because, with any luck, the horse can go a great race.”

Ferguson’s three hopes at Invercargill include Beluga, who was unlucky in his fourth on debut at Winton last month.

With more clear air on Thursday, the pacer looks to be a huge winning chance in Race 4, the Provident Insurance Mobile Pace.

“If he fronts up like he did at Winton last week, he should be a great chance,” Ferguson said.

“He has always been a lazy horse and quite green, but we have been hoping a bit of Bettor’s Delight comes out on race day.”

“If the same horse turns up this week, he’d be hard to beat.”

Stable junior driver Max Hill links up with two of Ferguson’s runners on Thursday, including Netherton Franco, who looks a strong each-way hope in Race 9, the All Purpose Engineering/ Stirling Auto Repairs Mobile Pace.

“Her last run was good — she didn’t have any luck, but she fought on pretty well.”

“Double Jeopardy looks hard to beat, but I’d be disappointed if she can’t run a place in that field.”

Hill will also aim to continue his fine strike rate with trotters from the Ferguson barn when combining with Ah Dinnae Ken in Race 5, the Creation Signs Handicap Trot.

“The start is going to be the big thing with her,” Ferguson said.

“Her last start was good, and she seems to be as good as ever, but she can’t afford to make a mistake or even be slow away over 2200m.”

Louies Girl looks to be the standout among Ferguson’s outside drives in Race 8, the Vetsouth Equine Southern Belle Speed Series Mobile Pace.

The mare ran on well for fifth in last weekend’s Group 2 Wyndham Champagne Stakes.

For complete race entries, click here.

by Jonny Turner, for Harness Racing New Zealand