Ferguson looking for another Cup

Wyndham harness racing trainer Craig Ferguson has a strong hand to play in Sunday’s $40,000 Regent Car Court Southern Country Cups Final at Ascot Park.

Ferguson has two starters in the final – Nutcracker (Bettor’s Delight) and backmarker Da Vinci (Art Major).

On an off track at Wyndham twenty four days ago, Nutcracker didn’t get a run to suit, and finished eighth.

“She’s never really gone that good in the wet and she’s better suited on the fence. Last start she got off (the fence) and was carted right back to last behind one that had a few steering problems. They ran a 56 half on a wet track. It looked an average run at the time but if you break it down it probably wasn’t as bad as it looked. Her work’s been good since and she’s in a pretty good space. She just has to have things go her way,” Ferguson said.

Da Vinci has been the ‘Cups king’ this season, winning the Gore Summer Cup, Cromwell Cup and Northern Southland Cup. He faces a thirty metre handicap on Sunday.

“He tends to begin well. He’s off 30 but One Change is off 20. If he begins well and gets on the back of that one he won’t have to work too hard to tack onto the back of the field. It’ll depend on how the race is run. Beach Flybye made a super beginning last week and got to dictate in front. If that happens again he’s going to take a lot of running down.”

Beach Flybye (Downbytheseaside) trained by Steve and Amanda Telfer runs off the front mark again on Sunday and draws barrier one.

“He’s very good from the stand and hopefully that’ll continue. He seems really well at the moment, and we haven’t had to do too much with him this week. He doesn’t require a lot of work because he’s a big lean fella. He’s been very bright and full of himself round the farm at Brett’s place (Brett Gray). Stepping and getting on the marker pegs for the 2700 metres will be crucial to his chances,” Steve said.

The twenty third running of the Southern Country Cups Final this year, the winners list includes Howard Bromac in 2004, Bondy 2007, Franco Ledger 2012, Vintage Cheddar 2018 and Pembrook Playboy 2021.

The race record of 3-21.2 for the 2700 metre stand is held by the 2014 winner Pemberton Shard.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink