By Jonny Turner
Wag Star fans can keep the faith ahead of the MLT Wyndham Cup on Saturday.
The pacer was largely luckless through the spring when clashing New Zealand’s best pacers and little has changed in his two runs back from a spell.
In the latest of those at Ascot Park, Wag Star was forced to sit parked when unable to cross to the lead with a horse on his inner racing fiercely.
In testing conditions, the pacer fought on for fourth and his effort was enough to get a tick of approval from trainer Craig Ferguson.
“When that horse was pulling hard inside him it wasn’t ideal and he was forced to sit parked, but he fought on pretty well,” the trainer said.
“On a day where most horses that worked were struggling in the conditions, his run was pretty decent.”
With a tough 3200m staying test just seven days after his Ascot Park outing, crucially, Wag Star has come through his last start well.
“He has come through it really well, he hasn’t left any feed or anything like that,” Ferguson said.
“We haven’t done a whole lot with him this week but he seems really well in himself.”
Wag Star will step up to race over two miles for the first time in his hometown cup and Ferguson is confident the pacer can handle it.
“He is a tough customer, so hopefully he should suit two miles.”
Wag Star is one of three horses that will start from a 20m handicap in the MLT Wyndham Cup.
Ferguson will also link up with the horse went toe to toe with in their last starts at Ascot Park in Always Ticking.
After over-racing in the lead, the mare fought on to run a creditable 5th behind Wyndham Cup aspirant Betterthancash.
Always Ticking steps back in distance when stepping out in Saturday’s Southern Belle Speed Series Heat.
And Ferguson rates the mare a cheeky hope.
“I thought she went fought on pretty well last week and she definitely wouldn’t be the worst chance if she got a bit of luck on Saturday.”
Ferguson will be hoping to feel the same kind of electric speed Marketplace delivered in his sensational placing at Alexandra Park on Friday night.
The brilliant three-year-old charged home from well off the speed to finish third behind Rubira, who ran a 26sec closing 400m in the lead.
Marketplace was unofficially timed to run his last 400m in 25.3sec.
