Fergusons looking to make their mark at Cambridge

by Jordyn Bublitz

Dylan and Jo Ferguson will line up four runners at Cambridge Raceway tonight, with three-year-old filly Sea The Cash kicking things off in Race 1, the Skyline Lounge Open All Race Nights Mobile Pace.

There's no doubting the ability is there. It's just a matter of putting it all together.

"She's got plenty of ability but she's still racing super green," Jo said.

Sea The Cash was a nice winner two starts back before things didn't go her way last time out.

"She won quite nicely two starts back, and she had absolutely no luck last start so we've put a line through that.

"We'll just be trying to keep her out of trouble, get another run under her belt and keep building her ringcraft."

The Merc goes around in Race 2, the Hire A Venue At Cambridge Raceway Trot, and if Jo had to pick one of the stable's four as their best chance of the night, he'd be the one.

"We're quite happy with him going into tonight. I've been giving him a lot of work under saddle and he absolutely loves it," Jo said.

"He's relaxed, which is a big thing for him."

The team has also been trialling a slightly different pre-race routine, with the gelding being ridden in the warm-up in an effort to keep him from getting too fired up.

"His workout was really nice on Saturday. We did a practice run of riding him in the warm-up which went well, so we're going to be trying that again tonight so he doesn't get too fired up pre-race.

"We're giving him every chance to put his best foot forward."

"I don't want to feel confident with him because he's let us down a couple of times, but I think we've got him in a really good space and I'm hoping tonight's the night for him."

Race 4, the Book Your End Of Year Function @ Cambridge Raceway Hcp Trot, will see Majestic Trix make her first start for the Ferguson stable.

The team is still getting to know the mare, but Jo was happy enough with what they saw at the trials.

"It's her first start for us, she trialled nice enough, we're definitely still just getting to know her really," she said.

"She's a nice enough horse, and hopefully if she can trot all of the way we'll pick up a bit of money."

Miki's Moment rounds out the stable's night in Race 8, the NZMCA Parking At Cambridge Raceway Mobile Pace for amateur drivers, where Fergus Schumacher will again take the reins.

The pair have a pretty handy record together, with one drive and one win, and the Fergusons will be hoping to keep that intact.

"Last time we lined him up in the amateurs it was a pretty comfortable win, and Fergus is one drive for one win on him, so we're looking to keep that record intact," Jo said.

The race looks to have a little more depth this time around, but Miki's Moment has the gate speed to put himself into the race early.

"The field has a little bit more depth to it than what it did when he won, and there's a little bit of speed inside him, but he's got wicked gate speed so we'll be looking to use it."

The drive is also a special one for the team, with Schumacher a close friend of the Fergusons.

"We're lucky to have Fergus on, he's a great friend of ours so it's awesome to be able to have him on."

Mixed news for the youngsters

Away from tonight's card, it's mixed news for the Ferguson stable's two smart juvenile trotters as the spring carnival starts to come into view.

Ellie Diamond is unfortunately out for the remainder of the season after suffering a stress fracture in her tibia and is currently on box rest.

"It's gutting, but we always thought she'd make a nicer three-year-old, so the silver lining is that the break will only do her good," Jo said.

There is better news for Apollo Eleven, who remains on track for a spring campaign and heads to the workouts this Saturday.

The stable has deliberately taken its time with the youngster, with the bigger targets later in the season always the priority.

"He's about to head to the trials, we haven't rushed too much with him," Jo said.

"We figured it was going to be a long prep anyway. Harness Millions and Sire's Stakes have always been the main aim, so we opted not to run in the race at Auckland this week.

"We just want to focus on getting him south. He'll go to the workouts this Saturday and we'll make a more concrete plan from there."