Ferguson’s Sweetart wins on debut

Young Wyndham trainer Craig Ferguson looks to have another nice harness racing filly in the stable with Major Sweetart winning on debut on her home track today.

“I’ve liked her from day one. I had her ready to go to the races last time in, but she got a cold, so we turned her out,” he said.

Major Sweetart warming up for Mark Hurrell                       

Major Sweetart was bred by Bathan and Jane Muir who share in the ownership with Bathan’s parents Ken and Jill, and Jennifer and Alison Clearwater.

Bathan and Jane also have a full brother to the filly, named Street Art. He qualified at Winton in June as a two-year-old.

By Art Major, Major Sweetart is out of the Mach Three mare Curragh’s Princess which won three races for Ryal Bush trainer Hamish Hunter. Curragh’s Princess is a half-sister to seven race winner Estella Rose and is from a family the late Jack Smolenski had a lot of success with.

In today’s race Major Sweetart driven by Mark Hurrell  sat parked outside Cool Idea. He passed Cool Idea in the last 50 metres winning by half a length, with ten lengths back to the third horse Seventh Heaven.

 

“Sitting parked with a bit of a breeze wasn’t ideal but she was good enough to overcome that.”

Getting the better of Cool Idea

Winning connections

Ferguson also trains impressive two-year-old filly Nutcracker which won the Group Three Caduceus Club of Southland/ Alabar Fillies Classic at Ascot Park in March.

“She’s into her second week of fast work.”

Meanwhile Over The Odds got a well deserved maiden win in the hands of Blair Orange.

Over The Odds winning his first race

The three year old gelding owned by Wayne McEwan and trained by Kirstin Barclay had finished second on debut and third in both of his next two starts. The winning margin was five and a quarter lengths.

by Bruce Stewart