NZ HARNESS NEWS
A calm and collected drive from Dylan Ferguson saw Classie American get a deserved win in the Otaki Cup this afternoon.
At the top of the straight, Classie American was held up for racing room and looking for luck.
Race favourite Black Chevron was in the clear and gaining a march, but Ferguson didn’t panic.
“I was in two minds about whether to wait for the inside run or to get out and run down the outside,” he said.
“Black Chevron was obviously the one to beat and he was getting an advantage on us.”
In a drive that belied his years in the cart, Ferguson waited and eventually got the gap underneath the leaders.
Classie American responded with gusto and dashed through to win handsomely.
In his two most recent outings, Classie American had run seconds in both the Te Awamutu Grass Cup and Wellington Trotting Cup, the latter on Friday, the first day of the Kapiti Coast Harness Racing Club’s annual two-day meeting.
“He’s a cool little horse that tries really hard,” said Ferguson.
“He’s got as good a turn of foot on the grass as he does on the grit and that definitely helped him today.
“I think he’ll win a couple more before the season is out.”
Ron Richardson trains Classie American in Te Awamutu and he has been a long-time supporter of both Ferguson and his father, Peter.
“Ron and Keith Hasler do a great job; they deserve all the success they get.”
Richardson trained the older brother to this horse, Classic American, to a seven-length debut win at Cambridge back in 2013.
He was subsequently sold to the Gary Hall stable in Perth and has since gone on to North America, banking in excess of $300,000 along the way.
- NZ Harness News
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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