The Cambridge horseman has eight screws, a steel plate and fused bones in his left hand after surgery in July.
He has been back driving at trials and workouts in the past fortnight.
"The hand feels really good," Ferguson said last night.
His thumb was torn from the socket in October last year in an accident with a horse. He was away from driving for about three months. The injury was pinned but the hand continued to be painful, necessitating the second operation.
"I had planned to be back a month ago but when I lost the drive on Gold Ace, I decided to wait," he said.
He has two of his own team, Jessies Cullen and No Liability, engaged tonight. He also has good drives for Blenheim trainers Mike and Pat O'Brien.
"Jessies Cullen has gone well at Palmerston but I am on a learning curve with No Liability, having only had him a month," Ferguson said.
Jessies Cullen won at the Manawatu raceway in February. No Liability was a first-up winner at Alexandra Park in November when trained by Gareth Dixon.
Beckinsale, the 3yr-old filly who ran fourth at Winton on October 14 in her only start, is a top chance for the O'Brien stable.
Magna indicated she was ready to resume racing at Kaikoura on Monday with a trial win at Ashburton yesterday.
Magna won her trial over 2400m (mobile) in 3.00.3, the last 800m in 55.7 and 400m in 26.2.
Magna, who has not raced since May, won at Methven and Ashburton last season for Greenpark trainers James and Jim Geddes.
Easy On The Eye, who is in the Kaikoura Cup, won his trial yesterday, the last 800m in 54.9 and 400m in 26.8 after starting from 20m.
Statesman, promoted winner of the $50,000 Yearling Sales Pace at Kaikoura last year, is in the same race on Monday. Our Boy Su, who was relegated from first to second, is again among his rivals.
Auckland Reactor is scheduled to have his next start at Addington on November 2 as a lead-up to the New Zealand Trotting Cup 11 days later.
Trainer Mark Purdon decided to bypass the Kaikoura Cup with Auckland Reactor to ensure a laceration to the right foreleg of the entire was completely healed. Auckland Reactor will be off 25m in the Addington race.
He sustained the laceration at his last start in the Canterbury Classic on October 5.
Stablemate Sleepy Tripp, who was withdrawn yesterday from the New Zealand Cup after being stood down from standing start races at Ashburton on Monday, is back to a mobile at Addington tomorrow night.
John Dunn has been engaged to drive Alta Christiano in the heat of the Sires' Stakes tomorrow night by his Australian part-owners. Alta Christiano has been driven in his seven starts by Mitchell Kerr, son of trainer Paul Kerr, for four wins including the New Zealand Kindergarten Stakes, a heat of the Sires' Stakes and a Yearling Sales Graduate at Addington, all as a 2yr-old last season. Alta Christiano tangled during his race at Forbury Park on Sunday and lost all chance.
Cool Cobber, the winner of four races for Knapdale trainers Robin Swain and Colin Baynes, is now with Michelle Wallis and Bernie Hackett at Waiuku. Cool Cobber has not raced since June.
Franco Nadal, a winner at Addington in March for Steven McRae, is now with Ben Waldron at Ashburton.
Results of the trials yesterday:
Ashburton
Qualifying test, pacers, 2400m: Rogart D Anderson 1; Shameless 2; Nikita Franco 3. Ten started. Nk, 1L.
Time, 3.12.9 (first two qualified). Trainer, D Anderson.
Qualifying test, trotters, 2400m: Oh Nova R Aubrey 1; Sueno 2; Glenferrie Sunbird 3. Ten started. 7L, 13 1/2L. Time, 3.14.7 (first two qualified). Trainer, R Aubrey.
Qualifying test, pacers, mobile, 2400m: Try Or Die G O'Reilly 1; Novappeal 2; Transaction 3. Six started.
1/2L, hd. Time, 3.02.9 (six qualified). Trainer, G O'Reilly.
Two-yr-old pacers, mobile, one mile: Bay Emerald R Holmes 1; Elroy Jetson 2. Two started. Nk. Time, 2.12. Trainer, L Driver.
0w pacers, mobile, 2400m (first heat): Massimo D Dunn 1; Dudinka's Beau 2; Chapala Surprise 3. Four started. 3/4L, 10L. Time, 3.02.1. Trainer, R Dunn.
Second heat: Magna J B Geddes 1; Classic Brigade 2; Laura's Legend 3. Four started. 3 1/2L, 6 1/2L. Time, 3.00.3. Trainer, J and J Geddes.
0w pacers, 2400m: Magical Mario D Dunn 1; Roofcraft 2; The Empire's Sister 3. Six started. 1 1/2L, nk. Time, 3.07. Trainer, K Fairbairn.
0w trotters, 2400m: Sundown In Paris J Dunn 1; Whata Gamble 2; Waihemo Angus 3. Nine started. 1 1/2L, nk. Time, 3.20.9. Trainer, K Fairbairn.
1w+ pacers, 2400m: Easy On The Eye 20 S McMullan 1; Smiling Star 2; Junkyard Sue 3. Four started. 1 1/4L, 3 1/2L. Time, 3.06.1. Trainer, S Reid.
1w+ trotters, 2400m: Frisson P O'Reilly and Oscar J Smith 1; Le Garcon 3. Five started. Dd ht; nk. Time, 3.17.7. Trainers, P O'Reilly and L and J Smith (Oscar).
Winton
Weather, overcast; track, fast.
Qualifying test, pacers, 2400m: Barrow street A Beck 1; Jade's VC 2; Sokys Last 3. Five started. 2 1/2L; 1 1/2L. Time, 3.15 (none qualified).
Qualifying test, trotters, 2400m: Free Dreams A Beck 1; Winfield Jayhann 2; John The Fib 3. Three started. 6L; 58L. Time, 3.17.4 (two qualified). Trainer, T Wilson.
Qualifying test, pacers, mobile, 2400m: Nokomai M Swain 1; The Shack 2; Shortys Desire 3. Seven started. 2L; nk. Time, 3.13.9. Trainer, M Swain.
0w pacers, mobile, 2400m: Treasure Hunter P Hunter 1; John Paul Jones 2; Christy Breanna 3. Nine started. 2 3/4L; 4L. Time, 3.06.6. Trainer, P Hunter.
1w+ pacers, mobile, 2400m: Sly Courage A Armour 1; Sherlock Bromac 2; B Fifty Two 3. Three started.
2L; 3/4L. Time, 3.10.3. Trainer, R giles.
0w pacers, mobile, 2400m: Iverezy S Walkinshaw 1; Elusive Flight 2; Franco Synergy 3. Eight started.
3/4L; 3/4L. Time, 3.06.1. Trainer, A hunter.
1w+ pacers, 2400m: Shortys Delight A Beck 1; Laughing Man 2; V C Dell 3. Four started. Nk; 3L.
Time, 3.13.5. Trainer, A Beck.
