John Ferguson to quit training...

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PNkt

PNkt

Well-Known Member
Jul 25, 2011
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Newmarket
Racing Post article:


Ferguson to quit training at the end of April
  • By Lewis Porteous 10:06AM 22 DEC 2015
    JOHN FERGUSON, currently in fifth position in the British jumps trainers' championship, is to quit training at the end of April to become chief executive and racing manager to a new streamlined Godolphin operation.

    The best of Ferguson's horses, almost exclusively recruited from Godolphin and Darley to run under the Bloomfields banner, are set to re-join Godolphin, with Charlie Appleby taking charge from his base at Moulton Paddocks in Newmarket.

    The move, announced on Tuesday, will see Godolphin and Darley - the global racing and breeding empires of Sheikh Mohammed - merge into one operation in the New Year.

    Ferguson, currently bloodstock adviser to Sheikh Mohammed, will become chief executive and racing manager of the new-look Godolphin, with his stable staff invited to join Godolphin.

    Ferguson said: "I am extremely proud of the team at Bloomfields and the excellent job they have done over the past five years. They are a fantastic group, who have given everything to the stable and I am very grateful for their hard work.

    "It is an exciting new chapter in the Godolphin story. Our long-term objective is to improve on Godolphin's results on the racetrack. I feel honoured to be appointed chief executive and racing manager, but I realise that it will require more of my time and attention.

    "I will miss the training. Jump racing has always been one of my sporting passions, and I love the involvement."

    Ferguson added: "I am very grateful to Sheikh Mohammed for giving me the horses to send jumping in the first place. In fact, he wanted me to continue, but I could see that Godolphin must always be a priority and requires my undivided attention.

    "It makes sense for the racing and breeding operations to merge. One is sourcing the other, and a well-planned, common strategy can only strengthen both.

    "We must ensure that Godolphin continues to represent excellence in racing, and that the brand serves as a constant reminder of the vibrancy and energy of Dubai."

    Darley, under which all Sheikh Mohammed's bloodstock holdings formerly operated, will be used solely as a brand to promote stallions in the future.
 
The article isn't terribly clear, when it says John Ferguson's horses are to rejoin Godolphin, is that as Flat or Jumps horses? Surely if they've already been discarded as Flat horses there is not much point in trying them again.
 
Thanks for posting this Princess does that mean Bloomfields will cease to exist? If so how will Nass be able to find bumper winners in the future? :)
 
OddDog said:
Thanks for posting this Princess does that mean Bloomfields will cease to exist? If so how will Nass be able to find bumper winners in the future? :)
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Sounds like it, if the staff are all being offered jobs at Godolphin and the horse's being switched to Appleby I can't see that there will be a need for Bloomfields.
 
The classic bollocks about "OOOOOH 102 rated on the flat" was always good.

Yeah mate but he ran over 8f on a road, not 2m up a bank hock deep in mud.

There ain't many Hurricane Flys for a reason!
 
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TopClass said:
The classic bollocks about "OOOOOH 102 rated on the flat" was always good.

Yeah mate but he ran over 8f on a road, not 2m up a bank hock deep in mud.

There ain't many Hurricane Flys for a reason!
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Ah right, OK he mustn't have been getting the right ammo then from somewhere within the lorryloads of ex Flat horses he got served over to him! Maybe it's a coincidence that his find very little of the bridle under a bit of pressure? Same way other flat trainers like Johnston and Bolger etc seem to find plenty when asked? Just luck nowt to do with trainers?!

You seriously think other jump trainers couldn't have gotten even ONE Festival winner from what Ferguson inherited? I suspect others might have. Just my opinion mind.

Funny how the powers that be decided to end his jump training career...
 
Ferguson only ever had winners on good ground. As soon as soft appears, the winners dry up. Apart from the odd dubawi.
 
Lots going through the ring in the summer then!

Enjoy your summer Nassau!

Vaseline 2 for a £1 I say vaseline 2 for a £1
 
beeforsalmon said:
Ah right, OK he mustn't have been getting the right ammo then from somewhere within the lorryloads of ex Flat horses he got served over to him! Maybe it's a coincidence that his find very little of the bridle under a bit of pressure? Same way other flat trainers like Johnston and Bolger etc seem to find plenty when asked? Just luck nowt to do with trainers?!

You seriously think other jump trainers couldn't have gotten even ONE Festival winner from what Ferguson inherited? I suspect others might have. Just my opinion mind.

Funny how the powers that be decided to end his jump training career...
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Calm down mate.

I'm actually paying tribute to Hurricane Fly in what I'm saying- that no matter how talented these flat breds are, 99% of them are not cut out for top level jumps racing. There's a heart, a battle, and a physicality required unlike flat racing where it's speed and class that wins the day.

You are turning flat horses of 1m-1m4f in most cases, into 2 milers at a minimum- it's an entirely different discipline, different ground, different tracks.

Ferguson couldn't really get them to jump and maybe other trainers will do better. But I don't remember a hatful of ex flat horses doing well anywhere across National Hunt racing. Only Our Conor looked anything like top class. Dodging Bullets maybe but he is a below average champ.

I just think we look too much into flat ratings rather than flat styles.
 
floridaspearl said:
Ferguson only ever had winners on good ground. As soon as soft appears, the winners dry up. Apart from the odd dubawi.
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20% strike rate this month. I think people are being unfair to Ferguson, he has done well with his string of horses that have had issues on the flat or have been deemed not good enough to stay with Godolphin on the flat. He has had 70 winners this term at 33% strike rate.

Give him some store horses and I am sure he could do as good a job as the majority of jumps trainers.
 
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