Delson vying for hat-trick

By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk

Delson will by vying for a hat-trick of wins at Cambridge Raceway on Friday when he contests the Bayleys Thames Trotters Cup Handicap Trot (2200m).

Dylan Ferguson, who trains the gelding in partnership with Graeme Rogerson, is wary of Delson’s 45m handicap, but he is in good company with eight-win gelding Call Me Trouble beginning from the same mark.

“He has gone well in his last couple of starts but back to 45m over 2200m is never easy and he is going to need to be on his A-game again,” Ferguson said.

“All the better-quality ones are back there with him, even off the 30m, so he is going to have something to follow into the race at least.”

Pulling a cart is a rare occurrence for the Majestic Son gelding, who only steps foot on the track on raceday.

“He does all his work on the treadmill and in the pool,” Ferguson said.

“He never goes in the cart, so we have been sticking with what has been working and hopefully it can carry on.”

Stablemate Holyrood is another who has been in good form for the Hamilton stable, placing in all three of her starts this time in, and Ferguson is hoping she can break maiden ranks at the seventh time of asking in the Thames Harness Racing Club At Cambridge Mobile Pace (2200m).

“Holyrood has been racing really well,” Ferguson said. “She had a bit of a freshen-up and probably trialled the best she has felt this time back in. Even from the outside draw (8) I think she should be pretty hard to beat.”

Another looking for their maiden win is Fire And Delight who will line-up in the Cambridge Homes Mobile Pace (2200m) after her runner-up effort when on debut at Cambridge last month.

“She has got the draw (1) on her side,” Ferguson said. “She had a bit of a blow at the workouts the other day in a good time. She has got good gate speed and she has gone well in front. She should be pretty hard to beat.”

Ferguson will also line-up Unico Gem in the Lather Up At Woodlands Stud Mobile Pace (1700m) and True Believer in the Cambridge Raceway Thanks Thames HRC Trot (2200m).

“Unico Gem has had a bit of a freshen-up,” Ferguson said. “She was a bit crook last start when she was a bit disappointing. It is a pretty even field, so if she gets the rub of the green she is certainly good enough on her first three runs for us to pick up another cheque again.

“True Believer is in-foal to Majestic Son, so her days are numbered on the track. We are just trying our best to chalk up a win on the board with her before she is retired to the broodmare paddock.”

Meanwhile, Ferguson will be keeping a close eye on Addington Raceway where stable runner She Reigns will be competing in the Advanced Joinery Handicap Trot (2600m).

The five-year-old mare put in a gallant effort to run third over 2600m on Cup Day off her 30m back mark.

“She went great and tried really hard, as she always does,” Ferguson said.

“Off 30m on Cup Day is certainly a big effort. She has got to take on Oscar Bonavena on Friday, but she has come through the run well.”

While disappointed not to be down south himself due to COVID-19 restrictions, Ferguson said she is getting the royal treatment at Regan Todd’s property.

“It is a shame, but there are others a lot worse off – Ray Green missed out on his Cup winner,” Ferguson said.

“It was just fortunate that we didn’t have anything running in the Group One races, otherwise it might have been a tougher pill to swallow.

“She is getting looked after fantastically by Regan and his staff and having John Dunn in the bike is certainly nothing to frown upon.”