Mid season report - Craig Ferguson

Bruce Stewart Journalist

We’re halfway through the 2023 harness racing season and Bruce Stewart talks to Southern trainers about their plans, some of their better performed horses and some that are on ‘the watch list’.

Interviewee: Wyndham trainer Craig Ferguson - currently leading the Southland Trainers Premiership.

Wag Star (Sweet Lou) 4-2-2-0   $23,050

Wag Star

“He went out after the Supremacy and is having his first day jogging today (Monday). I picked him up just before I left (with Smokin Bandar to Australia) and he’s filled out a wee bit. He’s looking really good and a bit stronger. I think it’s all ahead of him. He’s pretty smart I think, and he should make the Derby. I’m looking forward to seeing what he does.”

Da Vinci (Art Major) 11-4-1-2   $50,688

Da Vinci

“We’ve gelded him because I thought he lacked a bit of focus last time in. We’ll let him stay out for another couple of weeks. I’ve been to have a look at him and he’s looking really well too. He’s been on good dairy farm grass. The weather wasn’t too bad when he was out spelling.”

Glaucus (Captaintreacherous) 4-2-0-0   $11,242

Glaucus

“He’ll stay out for another couple of weeks as well. He’s been up for a while and racing wise did a lot in a short time. His last run was okay but I probably expected him to go a wee bit better. He was just showing the effects of racing. I think he’ll benefit from the break.”

Cormac Leo (Sweet Lou) 4-1-1-1   $11,975

Cormac Leo

“He’s back in this week. He’s a nice horse who will win more races. He probably isn’t in the same league as Wag Star but he’s good enough to do a bit of a job.”

Nutcracker (Bettor’s Delight) 16-5-3-2   $46,882

Nutcracker

“She’s racing this week at Invercargill. She got a foot abscess after her last start win. We just kept her ticking over in the pool. We trialled her last week and I was pretty pleased with that. After Invercargill she’ll race in the Winter Rewards Final (Winton 30^th June).”

Netherton Franco (Always B Miki) 15-3-1-1   $21,465

Netherton Franco

“She’s due back in this week as well. She’s still a low rating horse (R44) so it’s probably all ahead of her as well.”

Street Art (Art Major) 4-3-0-0   $20,750

Street Art

“He’s had a wind operation. After his start in the South of the Waitaki we got him scoped and they reckon he was only getting about forty percent air through his lungs, so it was a huge run from him to finish where he did. He’s trialling this week and has come up really well. He used to pull and he was a bit hard to handle. In hindsight it was probably because he was cutting his wind off and panicking. Since he’s had the operation you can drive him in behind and he’s nice and relaxed. It’ll just be a case of whether the operation has worked, and we’ll know once we put a bit of pressure on him. On his work so far, he’s going bloody good.”

Snow Robyn (Rock N Roll Heaven) 23-5-1-5   $49,726

Snow Robyn

“She’s going to the workouts this week as well. Providing she goes alright we might sneak her and Street Art up to Addington.

On the watch list:

Rockerfella (Bettor’s Delight)

“He’s a full brother to Yorokobi and Nutcracker. He’s two and a great big horse and it looks as though he’s going to take a bit of time but he’s showing all the right signs at the moment.”