John Ferguson’s runners continue to add a fascinating new dimension to the jumps season as the trainer struck with his first juvenile hurdler at Huntingdon.
Known throughout the bloodstock world as the man who spots and acquires horses for Sheikh Mohammed’s far-reaching Flat empire, Ferguson is in a far more privileged position than most start-ups as he has a private base at Cowlinge near Newmarket and has taken delivery of quite a few Darley and Godolphin cast-offs.
Asaid (4-1) was placed in all four starts for Saeed bin Suroor, without looking desperately straightforward, but became Ferguson’s 14th winner under Rules when pulling two lengths away from Nicky Henderson’s One Lucky Lady in the Join Epds Racing Club Juvenile Hurdle.
Regular stable rider Jack Quinlan was once again in Ferguson’s distinct black and red colours and he still needed to be quite vigorous in his encouragement of Asaid.
“It’s going better than I expected, and we even managed two winners in the point-to-point at Cottenham last Sunday,” Ferguson said.
“We were hopeful, but he was our first juvenile hurdler and you never really know until they run.
“We’ve got a few more to run. He looked happy and the thing that pleased me is that he jumped very well, so that’s great.”
Dual Ascot bumper winner Population has been one of Ferguson’s horses to look destined for better things, but he played down any talk of a large Cheltenham Festival squad.
“I think we have one or two possibles, but it’s a long way away still and I don’t want to tempt fate by giving out any names,” he said.
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