Ferguson with key drives both north and south

By Jonny Turner 

One of the biggest weeks in Craig Ferguson’s driving career got even bigger on Tuesday.

Ferguson is preparing to partner Marketplace in Friday night’s Group 1 Woodlands Stud Northern Derby before heading to his home province’s biggest day of the year on Sunday – Diamonds Day at Ascot Park.

Within the space of a few minutes on Tuesday afternoon, Ferguson picked up one of the most sought-after drives at Invercargill – the unbeaten Utah Jazz.

Trainer Nathan Williamson was sweating on a start with another of his star fillies, Captains Mistress, who made the Group 2 Macca Lodge-Nevele R Stud Southern Oaks Final from the bottom of the qualifying points table. 

That left the seat behind Utah Jazz vacant, and Ferguson jumped at the opportunity to link up with the filly.

Far from being the second-stringer of the Williamson duo expected to dominate Oaks betting, there’s a strong case that Utah Jazz goes into the Southland feature at least on level footing with her stablemate. 

That’s high praise, considering Captains Mistress has already proven herself with a Group 1 victory.

But Utah Jazz has been so explosive in her recent wins that the hype is justified.

Ferguson will also start his stable star Wag Star in the Regent Car Court Country Cups Final on Sunday and he’ll team up with another key filly in Ideal Crown.

The Chelsea Faithful-trained pacer is the only filly taking on the boys in the Group 1 Diamond Creek Two-Year-Old Classic. 

Ideal Crown comes into the race after winning the Group 3 Caduceus Club of Southland - Alabar Fillies Classic before her second in last weekend’s Group 2 Entain Fillies Southern Classic.

Jumal is set to start as favourite in the Group 1 Diamond Creek Two-Year-Old Classic following his outstanding victory over several of his rivals at Addington last weekend. 

The pacer backed up his solid debut victory at the same track with a dominant performance, powering away to win by six and three-quarter lengths for trainer Steven Reid and driver Samantha Ottley.

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