By Jonny Turner
Craig Ferguson knows the first few metres of the Group 3 events on Macca Lodge Northern Southland Cup Day could be as crucial as the last.
Ferguson links up with two key chances in Validation in the Caduceus Club Of Southland Alabar Fillies Classic and Wag Star in the Macca Lodge Northern Southland Cup.
Validation is the only filly in her field of youngsters to have been to the races ahead of Sunday’s Group 3.
The Ross Houghton trained two-year-old led early from barrier 1 in her only start at Addington, where she took on colts and geldings, running a respectable third.
Ferguson wants to see the same kind of early speed from her at Ascot Park, though with any two-year-old having just their second start, he knows she’s far from push-button yet.
“She’s shown that she has got good gate speed, so hopefully she can take advantage of that if she needs to,” Ferguson said.
“She has had a trial since that first start and it was nice, so I think she does have options however it pans out.”
Validation tucked in behind the speed in her recent trial as her team look to build up her ringcraft at this very early stage of her career.
“Having had a start at Addington under lights, they always take good benefit out of it.”
“She has got a little bit of an advantage over the others there and hopefully it will help her chances on Sunday.”
Ferguson starts Wag Star in the Group 3 Macca Lodge Northern Southland Cup on the back of a win in the Gore Summer Cup.
Though Sunday’s feature is a step back up in grade, Wag Star should have no fears in the company he will mix it with.
“He was really good last start, he showed a bit of fight and dug in which was great because at times he can get a bit dreamy,” Ferguson said.
“It is obviously a harder field this week but he seems to be ticking all the right boxes.”
Wag Star made a standing start error two starts ago, something he did on several occasions late last year.
With Sunday’s handicaps setting up a very even contest, the pacer can’t afford to take a backward step early.
“When he gets it right he begins really good, it surprises us when he does get it wrong.”
“He is just that sort of horse, when he puts a wrong step in he loses it.”
“That is going to be key on Sunday, you can’t afford to miss away in a race like that.”
The Ferguson barn has a two-pronged attack on the Northern Southland Cup, with Beach Day and driver Mark Hurrell lining up alongside Wag Star.
The mare got her last standing start badly wrong after running a creditable fourth in the Group 1 New Zealand Standardbred Breeders Stakes at Addington.
Ferguson will also drive bright winning hopes Havtimewillfly and Ah Dinnae Ken, who add depth to the reinsman’s strong book of drives on Northern Southland’s big day of harness racing.
Jonny Turner’s Five To Follow
Race 1 – Princess Lisa
After winning nicely at Winton on Thursday, this mare will attempt to make it two-from-two in Southland. Princess Lisa kept digging in to score a handy victory in respectable time at Central Southland Raceway and the best part was it was penalty-free. She takes on what could be described as a slightly harder line-up on Sunday, but it still looks well within her range. Crucially, Princess Lisa draws barrier 1 over the 1700m sprint trip around the tighter Ascot circuit. All of these factors point to her being very hard to beat.
Race 4 – Bowlem Over
After facing a much less suitable task at Winton on Thursday, the stars look to have aligned for Bowlem Over on Sunday. Barrier 2 and the tight-turning Ascot Park track are right up the front-runner’s alley. Another plus is the booking of Matthew Williamson, who seems to click with this pacer. I am expecting Bowlem Over to use his good early speed to find the lead and take plenty of catching. There doesn’t look to be the potential for too much mid-race pressure in Sunday’s event, which is another plus. After opening a longer third favourite, Bowlem Over looks a nice value option.
Race 7 – Ah Dinnae Ken
In what could be another smart play, Ah Dinnae Ken looks like another good option for punters. She takes on a very deserving favourite in Mor Moonlight, who will be hard to beat. But the favourite has to start from 10m over 2200m, which is no easy task. Traffic alone could prove tricky for Mor Moonlight, which could place her at a disadvantage compared to Ah Dinnae Ken. Ah Dinnae Ken was outstanding in winning at Ascot Park before she made a mistake over the Gore grass track crossing in her last start. Forgive her that error and consider her on Sunday. Handicaps over sprint trips have undone many good horses, the question is what sort of impact they will have on these two talented trotters.
Race 8 – Always Dreaming
Always Dreaming could be the smartest play in the Northern Southland Cup. This field for the feature event is extremely even and there is barely a horse in it that doesn’t have genuine winning claims. Always Dreaming is right among those winning chances, which are only boosted by his standing start manners. His ability to make a flying beginning could put him in the perfect spot near the pace, which is vital at Ascot Park. If that’s the case he could also, in effect, have a head-start on his main rivals as he turns for home.
Race 9 – Havtimewillfly
In what looms as a possible head-to-head battle, I am sticking with this progressive filly. Both Havtimewillfly and Ebonezy are classy types who are sure to be real contenders come Southern Oaks time. Either can win with the way the barrier draws have set up on Sunday, they could be tracking each other. I’m going with the slightly more proven of the two in Havtimewillfly. Her last-start fifth at Addington was excellent, in a tougher race than this.
In a quinella of the day scenario, she gets the nod, only just.