Tag Archive for: Canberra Legend

Ferguson eager to assess Canberra’s Classic claims

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James Ferguson is excited to see whether Canberra Legend can book his Derby ticket in the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante Stakes at York.

After justifying odds-on favouritism on his racecourse debut at Newcastle in February, the Australia colt successfully stepped up to Listed class in last month’s Feilden Stakes at Newmarket.

The three-year-old is a 14-1 shot for the Betfred Derby at Epsom on June 3 with the sponsors and Ferguson is hopeful he can enhance his claims on the Knavesmire on Thursday.

“He’s a joy to train and like a lot of Australia’s (progeny) he has a very good mind,” the Newmarket handler said on Racing TV’s Luck On Sunday programme.

“For us he’s very exciting. He’s done his final piece of work and hopefully we can get there (York) in one piece and enjoy the day.”

Connections went to 350,000 guineas to purchase Canberra Legend as a yearling and Ferguson revealed it did not take him long to realise he could be a bit special.

He added: “It’s no secret that Mr Ho (owner) spent a lot of money to buy this horse and I was very grateful he decided to send the horse to me.

Trainer James Ferguson at York
Trainer James Ferguson at York (Mike Egerton/PA)

“We realised pretty soon when he came to the yard that he had a bit of presence about him. He was a big two-year-old and was never going to be a sharp, early type.

“You have this horse in your yard and you hope to God that he’s as good as you think he is. More often than not it doesn’t go so well, but when he won at Newcastle it was a relief.

“Stepping up from a novice to a Listed race is quite a big step, but I didn’t want to fit in another novice with a penalty on the all-weather and we had confidence in the horse.

“The Feilden Stakes is a proven race for good horses, it seemed a good option, we took our chance and thank God it went right.”

Having been pleased with his colt since his Newmarket triumph, Ferguson admits he will need to put up a big show at York if he is to head to Epsom.

He said: “I’ve given him two pieces of work since, he’s worked on the Limekilns and he’s worked on the Al Bahathri (gallops). Michael Hills sat on him both times and having ridden well over a thousand winners, he knows what he’s doing.

“Being realistic, I think to go to Epsom, with the trials that we’ve seen so far, I’d like to see him run well (at York).

“The most important thing is that he comes back safe and sound, we know we’ve got a good horse and whatever happens in the Dante he’s won a very good trial in the Feilden.

“I would like to see him win or place well to enable us to go to Epsom, if not we’ll think about going to France (French Derby) or straight to Ascot.”

Canberra Legend opens up Classic possibilities

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James Ferguson looks to have a smart prospect on his hands after Canberra Legend advertised his talent with victory in the bet365 Feilden Stakes at Newmarket.

The son of Australia created a deep impression when winning at Newcastle on debut, but this was a marked step up in class for just his second racecourse appearance.

Settled in mid-division as Charlie Johnston’s Killybegs Warrior led the field along, he was one of four to pull away from the pack as the race began to develop inside the final quarter of a mile.

In fact it looked as if Kolsai would provide Roger Varian with back-to-back victories in the Listed contest as Canberra Legend got lost heading into the dip. But as he hit the rising ground, the 15-2 shot found top gear and was keeping on strongly to take down Kolsai deep inside the final furlong.

Owned by Bon Ho – who enjoyed plenty of success alongside the Kremlin Cottage handler with Deauville Legend last term – Canberra Legend holds Classic entries in both the Qipco 2000 Guineas and the Betfred Derby, with Paddy Power going 20-1 from 50s for the Epsom contest on June 4.

Although a next port of call is still to be decided, Ferguson hinted a return to the Rowley Mile on Coronation day may come too soon, with York’s Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante Stakes on May 18 an alternative option.

Ferguson said: “He was quite inexperienced coming into the race, so I was delighted with how professional he was when the gates opened. From that wide draw he had every opportunity to be a bit keen and free, but he settled into the race really well.

“I thought he was given a lovely ride and from the jockey’s actions it looked like Dan was pretty happy the whole way, so I’m absolutely thrilled.

“He always has a been a big type, but he did show his class at two. We all made a decision to leave him and let him develop over the winter and that run at Newcastle and today showed he does have the ability that he’d shown us at home.

“I think he will definitely get further in time. Whether the Guineas is unlikely or not, I can’t say that without talking to the owner.

“He’s in the Guineas and the Dante. I think we have to see how he comes out of the race, the Guineas isn’t that far away. He looks like he wants further, but I have to talk to the owner first.

“We’ve got a lot of options ahead of us and it’s very exciting to have a horse of this calibre.”

There was further joy for Ferguson when 3-1 favourite Like A Tiger overcame a slow start to win the concluding Price Promise At bet365 Handicap in imperious fashion.

The 10-furlong handicap has some useful names on its roll of honour and Ferguson believes there could be plenty more to come from the improving son of Farhh, who was four lengths clear of the opposition at the winning post.

Ferguson said: “He’s obviously improved a lot since last year, but his pedigree said he would.

“I’d say I’ve got a bit of stalls work to do! He’s normally very relaxed, so that did surprise me. Luckily they didn’t go very quick so he caught up nicely and didn’t take too much out of himself.

“I think the ground was a big factor for him today. You can see from his knee action that he’s got a soft ground action and good to soft really plays into his favour.

Like A Tiger (right), here finishing second on debut, made a winning return to the Rowley Mile in the Price Promise At bet365 Handicap
Like A Tiger (right), here finishing second on debut, made a winning return to the Rowley Mile in the Price Promise At bet365 Handicap (Mike Egerton/PA)

“I can see him getting a mile and a half no problem. He’s got the usual entries and we’ll have to see how he gets on and where the right place for him is.

“He’s a very likeable horse and a bit of a yard favourite.”

Like Canberra Legend, Like A Tiger holds a Dante entry, but it seems unlikely will both head for the Knavesmire next month.

Ferguson added: “I wouldn’t want them to take each other on, I don’t think there’s any need to do that.

“It’s exciting to have the two of them. We’ve got a number of quality horses in the yard and hopefully we can continue on this track.”