Sometimes, there is no place like home.
After a busy time on the road, Craig Ferguson cashed in on his home track at Wyndham with a winning double yesterday.
With star 3-year-old Marketplace back in action and Wag Star on the New Zealand Cup campaign, Ferguson has been hitting the road to Canterbury in recent weeks.
Yesterday, it was a horse travelling in the opposite direction that had the trainer-driver’s colours in the winner’s circle.
Massive Merc cleared out from rivals in his first start for the Ferguson barn and new owners Daryl Olphert and The Broke Boys Syndicate.
Judging by his return to racing at Wyndham, the combination is set to have plenty of fun with their new acquisition in the coming months.
"He had raced in good company early on in his career and he’s always shown good manners, so we thought we would give him a go," Ferguson said.
"He had a nice spell in Canterbury before he came down and he’s been coming up quite nicely.
"I think the boys should have a bit of fun with him."
The Broke Boys Syndicate is a 14-strong group of owners, some of whom link back to Ferguson as far back as high school.
The group also race Ah Dinnae Ken, who has just returned to work with Ferguson, aiming to build on her three wins for them.
Ferguson also scored at Wyndham with the Amber Hoffman trained The Last Maguire.
The 5-year-old broke maidens in style when clearing out to win by three and a-half lengths.
Ferguson will soon be on the road again, with Wag Star stepping out in Sunday’s Methven Cup. The pacer has produced two tidy efforts in the spring, but he has cost himself by being slow away in both starts.
"He hasn’t helped himself, but we are working on it.
"Both of his runs have been good, hopefully he can get away a bit better and go another nice race on Sunday.
"He hasn’t started or trialled on grass, but I think it will suit him."
"We looked at this race because we thought he would like the grass; he is a good stayer.
"How much rain they get could make a difference though."
Marketplace missed a top three placing for the first time since May of last year when he ran fourth in his first outing of the spring at Addington last week.
Although defeated, Ferguson was pleased with the horse’s effort and is looking forward to a fitter version of the brilliant 3-year-old in the Group One Flying Stakes at Addington next week.
