Merc goes back to back

Wyndham trainer Craig Ferguson has found the key to three year old trotter Massive Merc, (Muscle Mass) and his connections were rewarded again today at the Tuapeka meeting when he stormed home to win by a nose.

For punters it was a nervous watch with Massive Merc galloping after the tapes were released.

“He trotted away. Bill Bootit began as quickly as he did and he went to race him and I probably let him as well. He just got a bit lost,” Ferguson said.

Massive Merc lost fifty metres before he resumed trotting.

“I thought it was over after that. Those ones up front were running along and I thought they were going to be hard to pick up.”

However, it didn’t take long for him to latch onto the back of the field.

Turning for home Ferguson had to bring the gelding four wide to make his run. He came storming home to nab perennial placegetter Bill Bootit by a nose.

“He just got a bit lost coming round that last bend. He does all his work on a big track and hasn’t been on small track for a while. When I asked him to quicken he did grab the bit again and once I pulled the earplugs he really sprinted up nice. I had a good look across and it looked as though I was ahead of Nathan (Williamson, driver of Bill Bootit).”

MASSIVE MERC REPLAY

Massive Merc was bought by Ferguson out of Alan Clark’s stable.

“Mark Hurrell spotted him and between him and Peter Lagan we bought him for $20,000 so we were happy with that.”

The gelding is raced by The Broke Boys Syndicate and local painter Daryl Olphert.

“They wanted one because they had a bit of money sitting there after having a bit of luck with Ah Dinnae Ken. We probably went a wee bit over budget but we were lucky enough to get Daryl Olphert to come in. I haven’t seen him yet but he’s a contractor, so he might be doing a bit of work after the winds (laughter).”

Prior to heading south to his new stable, Massive Merc had twenty nine starts for Clark, for a win, a second and two thirds.

“He didn’t like trotting with knee boots at the start so we’ve left them off and he’s been good. He was getting a wee bit close round the tight track today. Hopefully he can handle having those back on just for safety. The good thing about him is that he’s just got better and better and since his race at Wyndham he’s stepped up again. The plan this time is to give him a couple more starts then give him another nice spell. He’s got it all ahead of him. He’s quite a big horse so once he develops into himself he’s going to keep improving.”

Ferguson hasn’t ruled out racing Massive Merc in the New Zealand Trotting Derby.

“We had thought about taking him up for Cup Week and making that his next start, but it’ll depend on how he keeps progressing. He’s still a bit hairy and looks like a mountain goat, so he’ll tell us.”

For complete race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink