Club president seeks home town success

[Chief Stipe]

A busy day could turn in to a really exciting day if Social Club is able to win the Kindergarten Stakes at Wyndham on Saturday for trainer Russell Ferguson.

Ferguson is the president of the Wyndham Harness Racing Club, which hosts the $30,000 group 3 feature for two-year-olds.

That means there should be no shortage of people to cheer Social Club on, or help Ferguson celebrate victory in his club’s signature race.

Social Club faces a daunting task in his debut – taking on two quality pacers from the All Stars Stable.

Ferguson was confident his pacer would not be disgraced when clashing with Copperfield and Flying Even Bettor.

“I would expect him to be competitive,” he said.

“He has got his share of ability and the penny has dropped in the last month.”

“He has got the makings of a nice horse.”

Social Club has one clear advantage over the All Stars pair.

He only has to travel one kilmetre down the road for Saturday’s feature.

Copperfield and Flying Bettor face a road trip of around six hours to get to the Eastern Southland venue.

“There is no place like home, we don’t have to go far to do it, its only a ‘k’ down the road.”

“He has got a home track advantage, so he knows his way around the place pretty well.”

 

Social Club has had five trials and workouts to be readied for his debut on Saturday.

The Mach Three pacer won the latest of those by twenty lengths, clocking a 2.01.1 mile (1609m).

If Social Club goes as well as his older sibling already has this week, he should give the Kindergarten Stakes a good shake.

The pacer is a Mach Three half-brother to Queensland Oaks winning mare Sociable.

The Andrew Stuart trained four-year-old, who is by Buy Kiwi Made, won a trial at Rangiora on Wednesday as she approaches her return to racing.

Social Club was a $25,000 purchase at last year’s national yearling sales in Christchurch.

The pacer is one of four Southland trained two-year-olds that will have their first starts in the Kindergarten Stakes.

They clash with Copperfield, Flying Even Bettor and Tyron Terranova, who all started in Smooth Deal’s Sapling Stakes last month.

Ferguson has juggled preparing Social Club for Saturday’s race with his president’s duties.

He said his club was set for a big day out.

“This is our feature day for the year and we put a lot in to it.”

“Weather permitting, we will have a really good day.”

“It is going to be a great day’s racing, it is one of the most picturesque courses in the country and the track is in great order.”

“So we will look forward to some pretty slick times.”

 

 

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