Ferguson wants to keep options open for Asaid
JULY CUP DAY AT NEWMARKET JULY COURSE. John Ferguson bloodstock advisor to Sheikh Mohammed .
JOHN Ferguson has all but ruled out a trip to the Cheltenham Festival for Asaid.
On Sunday, the four year old put in an eye-catching performance in just his second run over hurdles when staying on to take fourth behind Hisaabaat in the Grade One Spring Juvenille hurdle.
Despite pleasing the Cowlinge-based trainer with his run at Leopardstown, a tilt at National Hunt racing’s premier event does not feature in his immediate plans.
“We were very happy with the run as it was only his second race over hurdles,” said Ferguson. “To be beaten by just over seven lengths in a Grade One contest was a good performance.
“He has come back well and now it is just a case of sitting down and thinking what to do with him.
“A lot of options are open to him, but it is unlikely he will go to the Cheltenham Festival.”
Twenty four hours prior to Asaid’s fourth-place finish, Ferguson saw the talented Cape Dutch return to winning ways when landing the Class Three John Smith’s Handicap Hurdle at Musselburgh.
Although on the mark with the five year old son of Cape Cross, Ferguson was out of luck with warm favourite Creekside in the John Smith’s Scottish Triumph Hurdle, which only managed a disappointing fifth. “We were pleased with Cape Dutch’s performance as it proves we found the right race for him to get back on track,” he added. “The simple reason as to why Creekside did not perform was that he did not settle.
“If you want to win races you have to have the horse settled.”
In just his first full year as a trainer Ferguson, who is better know for his role as a bloodstock advisor to Sheikh Mohammed, has taken the National Hunt scene by storm saddling 19 winners from just 51 runners.
Among those scoring for Ferguson was the highly progressive Cotton Mill, who unlike his stable mate Asaid, could be in line for a shot at a big juvenile hurdle prize at next month’s festival.
Last time out, Cotton Mill stepped up on his previous form when claiming the Grade Two Neptune Investment Management Leamington Novices’ Hurdle at Warwick.
“It is early days yet as to who goes to the festival — that will be a decision we take in the first week of March,” added Ferguson.
On the all-weather at Lingfield tomorrow, Newmarket trainer John Berry is hoping Karma Chameleon can defy his highest mark to date and make it five wins on the bounce.
The three year old continued to defy the handicapper last time out when scoring in a Class Five handicap at Wolverhampton last month.
“Karma Chameleon seems very well himself at home,” said Berry. “We galloped him up the Al Bahathri on Saturday and we were very pleased with what he did. It is the best race he contested to date and he will be running off a mark of 76 which is the highest he has ever raced off. All we can do is run him and hope for the best. I certainly could not ask for him to be in any better form.”
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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