James Ferguson

NEWMARKET, UK -- "Bought him for Bahrain," is an oft-repeated phrase at the sales these days. With an expansion in the Bahrain Turf Series announced only recently and the stamping of the form of some of the island's better races by Royal Ascot hero Isle Of Jura (GB), it is perhaps no surprise that it has become a target for a number of owners and trainers. Bahrain was also to the fore at the July Course during a sombre afternoon on which John Hunt was in the minds of his...

Given his profile, Ballylinch Stud's Waldgeist (GB) was never going to be producing early 2-year-old winners but the Arc-winning son of Galileo's time came fittingly at the start of September as his daughter Billiegee (Ire) got him off the mark in Wolverhampton's At The Races App Form Study Restricted Maiden Fillies' S. After an encouraging debut second over seven furlongs at Kempton in August, the James Ferguson-trained €21,000 Goffs Autumn Sale graduate was made the 11-8 favourite moving up more than 1 1/2 furlongs on the Tapeta here and enjoyed...

The Retraining of Racehorses Racing to Cricket tournament is set for Sunday, Sept. 3 at the Wormsley Cricket Ground on the Getty Estate, near High Wycombe. Teams from the yards of Nicky Henderson, Richard Hannon, Ben Pauling, Jack Channon, as well as the combined Newmarket trainers' team of George Boughey, James Ferguson and Charlie Fellowes will compete to win the RoR Racing to Cricket trophy. A champagne reception, as well as a buffet lunch and traditional cricket tea in the private marquee, will be offered but tickets for the event...

James Ferguson trainee Canberra Legend (Ire) (Australia {GB}--Rocana {GB}, by Fastnet Rock {Aus}) registered a 3 1/2-length tally in his Feb. 20 debut over one mile at Newcastle and made a smooth transition into stakes company with a game victory in Wednesday's Listed bet365 Feilden S. at Newmarket. The 15-2 chance broke well from the far-side stall and tracked the leaders in fifth for most of this straight nine-furlong contest. Easing into third approaching the quarter-mile marker, he took some time to engage top gear and, once doing so, devoured...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Tuesday's Insights features Classic aspirant Zoology (GB). 6.00 Southwell, Novice, £8,000, 3yo, 7f 14y (AWT) ZOOLOGY (GB) (Zoustar {Aus}) is back in novice company, having tried to mix it with Blackbeard (Ire) (No Nay Never) and co in the G1 Middle Park S. at Newmarket in September. Earning that...

LEXINGTON, KY--On a morning like this, you really couldn't be anywhere in the world but the Bluegrass: as night faded into dawn, a ghostly mist was exhaled from every swale, only to be burned off as the surrounding pastureland yawned and stretched gratefully beneath a sky of cut-glass brilliance. For one new arrival in Keeneland, however, a degree of disorientation remained wholly pardonable. Helpfully, James Ferguson had hit a wide-awake phase when coming down to the quarantine barn to supervise the preparations of Mise En Scene (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) for...

Connections of the Melbourne Cup favourite Deauville Legend (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) have bolstered their chances of winning the race that stops a nation by securing the services of local jockey Kerrin McEvoy. A three-time Melbourne Cup-winning rider, McEvoy, who has a close relationship with Deauville Legend's owner Bon Ho, will take over from regular rider Daniel Muscutt. Trainer James Ferguson has arrived in Australia early to see his former inmate and breakthrough Group 1 scorer El Bodegan (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) tackle Saturday's Cox Plate on debut for Chris...

Jockey Kerrin McEvoy will ride likely G1 Melbourne Cup favourite Deauville Legend (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) in the two-mile race at Flemington on Nov. 1, trainer James Ferguson announced. "McEvoy has been confirmed," said Ferguson, who has worked with McEvoy in years' past. "He's won the race three times and knows his way around Flemington. He's a very good friend of mine and we have worked together a lot in the past." The two-time group-winning gelding is due to enter quarantine shortly. Racing in the colours of K K...

Deauville Legend (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), a dual group winner in the UK this season, is firmly on course for the G1 Melbourne Cup Down Under in November and enters quarantine "a week on Monday" according to trainer James Ferguson. Second in Royal Ascot's King George V S. in June, the 3-year-old gelding franked that form with a narrow victory in the July 7 G3 Bahrain Trophy S. at Newmarket. Runner-up to the subsequently G1 Cazoo St Leger-placed New London (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in Goodwood's G3 Gordon S. on...

Trainer James Ferguson is on the move, not only set to occupy the Kremlin Cottage base recently vacated by Hugo Palmer, but also bound for Australia after Boniface Ho Ka Kui's 3-year-old gelding Deauville Legend (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}--Soho Rose {Ire}, by Hernando {Fr}) put a dent in the G1 St Leger hopes of his rivals with a decisive success in Wednesday's G2 Sky Bet Great Voltigeur S. at York. The March-foaled bay, who followed up a breakthrough score at Windsor in April with a second in June's King...

Following a record 2021 season, the Henry Cecil Open Weekend will be held Sept. 17-18 at Newmarket. Each September, racing and equine enthusiasts descend on British racing's headquarters for a behind-the-scenes look at Britain's best-known racing yards. Last year featured several training yards, including George Boughey and Harry Eustace, Charlie Fellowes, James Ferguson, Roger Varian and Simon & Ed Crisford. The highest number of yards opened to the public in 2021, and record crowds raised £60,000 for the event's chosen charity partners. The 2022 Henry Cecil Open Weekend will continue...

Juvenile Group 1 winner El Bodegon (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) will travel to France and contest the July 14 G1 Grand Prix de Paris according to trainer James Ferguson. A winner of the G3 Prix de Conde in September, the Nas Syndicate and A O'Callaghan-owned colt stepped up to 10 furlongs in the G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud and won by 1 1/2 lengths a month later. Unplaced in his 3-year-old bow, the G2 Dante S. at York on May 12, the bay bounced back to be a distant second in the...