Strike rate Craig

Hot favourite Cormac Leo (Sweet Lou) highlighted the immense talent harness racing trainer Craig Ferguson has in preparing horses to win on debut.

The three year old was very impressive in winning at Addington tonight and the Wyndham trainer now has three very good three year olds in Da Vinci (Art Major), Wag Star (Sweet Lou) and Cormac Leo (Sweet Lou) in the stable.

In tonight’s race Cormac Leo was forced wide early after Ferguson pushed him out from the outside of the front line. Once he reached the top he controlled the race and held on to easily win by a length and three quarters from second favourite Medina Magic (Downbytheseaside). The winning time was 2-25.5 with the last 800 metres run in 56.7 and the 400 in 28.3.

“It was a tough enough run tonight. He’s a lovely horse who goes when you ask him to and relaxes when you want him to,” Ferguson said.

The three year old was educated by Kyle Marshall and went to four workouts and two trials in the north before heading south to Ferguson’s Wyndham barn.

“I had an association with the owners when I had Sweet Treat (Sweet Lou) who came down from Kyle’s. When Kyle decided he was moving to Australia the owners decided to send a couple of horses down to me. He came down as a ready made racehorse, so we just had to get him fit this time. Kyle  had done a super job.” 

Ferguson gave Cormac Leo two quiet workouts before tonight’s debut win.

“I drove him in his first one and he hit the line nice. Mark (Hurrell) drove him in his second one and said he felt pretty sharp and that he was ready to go to the races so we were reasonably confident coming up.”

CORMAC LEO REPLAY

With only two qualifying heats for the Alabar Southern Supremacy Stakes left (Wairio and Wyndham) Ferguson will have to map a path for his three runners if they’re all heading to the final.

“Da Vinci and Wag Star will both go to the Supremacy heats with Wag Star going to both. This fella (Cormac Leo) will miss the Supremacy because the next heat is on Thursday. We’ll give him a couple  more starts and then tip him out for a break and get him ready for racing in the spring.”

Cormac Leo comes from an old Wyndham family and his sixth dam Matai Song left Kindergarten Stakes winner Matai Dreamer (Frosty Dream) who also won a Northern Derby forty four years ago.

For complete race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink